%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 18 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 13 0 R /F7 15 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 16 0 R /GS2 17 0 R /GS3 20 0 R /GS4 21 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250717182900+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250717182900+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1763 >> stream xXM6Wm֦i>h@E4Dq~F[ܟ7(X+J|μy3*8_}X}s'ݔuqWrlXaOH{%ݭޭD%qzG$ eMW"d'ˡ2w+5bߟX:$*˵((F'RQZn,Fkݿq =P2csDy90pZ<e/$e^MC-4AK>|%"I/ Ng#mŷ?/i̜d9M#8jbvҲPu-nZb) h.=.hT?P-; `i7QǛx͢4/aQ;܋fĨiwZLIWWd0"M}u@g@;jB nӍWBem8:J[b $NlP؞͉&oÉ%VQss5#[#X^́ q-ײ$N5VGksF^B ZY(AztrȓvpOZPˊ2 t/a sr zC&s2AA1B=ew=' ؓJ0bC`:XMd "`ښ#!.y 9-B=QΪCBbcP=pES ,ƘftAZ wuP%,B~HseoC\2ij Pc=t :Z]{h>,[ө#=i948$%!jTM‘mQh?̫F>0rI Z^+fIhsp@ل5*8r?u؃+ZևWtlM#::Ȯ54Urn!4ru$O*USHx~,'h! i/5v:GNyݍ{Fglꩲ<0(`vҢz.69s\UD%;[=!@O]n>j]&AlݫzPsaR\/֨3@|`sUUmmک(r?A*UڊXg5uޟu;֜ɪyq,ҥ:mx*dҡ γk) a}qdݱ܎~3Lp#|{e8P@r!cWӮdDvVO8i95)p^GKi/sLX_v3j|A}*~/C;p!<Er^_PR$w endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Helvetica-BoldOblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 14 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F7 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 19 0 R >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1319 >> stream xVM6ﯘc 8\}Nni6 Er(z%JbWZ}Cَ]09]-)jf͛KEIJkNgD$IBmw2,Fd =6t4 =D}ZQ-j&j lOY{G%+3I9TkQM+>S䔚hw$߫p'۩*i&jr%-EN\qjr08o݀myGH=I}U808˛\l7YބBPHn .KO1T$i410  we|g97!":T;2 T SD^Ř)blP+͈9J9N0Νk卬{$EzYE &3w=ykMYYŨ ްf-\+u k ~)C=CxZ\WFy-b'Hc$I&0J96ֵDlnM܄5H[}DQlr5HĢgT(pa2\yۘpQ bGުF/U^^g!nÖ{zœ)k&1~gFET)AP4P7ǀb7C{^Van+'>XI;x{bh*t֚2yGr!A)( K1$>4ypXME5 J%0BcwKV@6"6S,H u "I i>ftKA?Y|a8%55#cBsYlcӃ>,r/uOЎ7.+a=-cχ9|ؠI1j%"&{\J~zI7xqU a΃|^إ$;IcLg"RlL}'3bmCw'_,e+*zvSQ=򸞞C/0A,O`+Q%g7_/Y endstream endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj xref 0 22 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000412 00000 n 0000000441 00000 n 0000000590 00000 n 0000000693 00000 n 0000002529 00000 n 0000002636 00000 n 0000002744 00000 n 0000002854 00000 n 0000002967 00000 n 0000003083 00000 n 0000003203 00000 n 0000003232 00000 n 0000003342 00000 n 0000003401 00000 n 0000003460 00000 n 0000003565 00000 n 0000004958 00000 n 0000005015 00000 n trailer << /Size 22 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[] >> startxref 5072 %%EOF On the Corner | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

On the Corner

April 12, 1998
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

by Robert Docter – 

What with our natural inclination to believe that a message is comprised solely of content, somehow, I think it’s possible for us to perceive Jesus as someone without feeling. Actually, a more passionate person never walked the earth. The Gospel writers gave us the content of his message. We need to infer the feeling.

Empathy connects. When we feel with someone, our behavior toward that person changes. Jesus revealed his empathy constantly in his interaction. He was able to sense deeply within him the feelings of those he met only briefly on dusty roads and quiet streets, beside small ponds and massive lakes, on hilltops and in valleys. His empathy was certain and sure, and he acted on the feelings generated within him by the feelings expressed in those he met.

He felt the pain and confusion of sickness, the frustration of disease, the fear of rejection in those perceived as different. He reframed the plight of the discouraged, the lowly, the spiritually depressed, the persecuted, the weak and gave them hope when he called them “blessed.” He empathized and he acted.

News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

His powerful sermons contrasted Jewish legalism with the need for people to establish strong codes of personal ethical behavior. He knew the power of strong feelings–of rage, of sexual misconduct, of emotional battery, of hate. He was aware that rules alone would not save us from the behavior that would follow these strong feelings Therefore, he revealed to us God’s optimism. He demonstrated that the power of choice in relation to our feelings beats within each of us. Then, he taught us how to behave responsibly.

Jesus revealed great compassion for the poor. He asked us to share those feelings–to give of ourselves altruistically –without the expectation of any return.

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.

He was as concerned about our motive for good works as for the content of the work itself. The intent of the act was as important as the act. The act done for recognition by others reaped an earthly reward of recognition and praise while the act done in “secret” is rewarded in heaven.

He sensed the stress and difficulty of daily existence and tells us: Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

He not only senses our stress and gives us advice, he tells us how to find peace. It seems to be based on the kind of foundation we construct in our lives

He senses the exhaustion of our predicaments and empathizes with us as he discloses his inner self.

Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

He was filled with anger and disgust in confrontations with the Jewish legalistic system, but on a hillside overlooking Jerusalem he wept for the city. In mock trials his brief answers were truthful, without resentment; honest, without guile. On a crude wooden cross between two robbers he suffered the pain of human existence, and in triumph he conquered death.

When we empathize with him, we sense him within us.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like