4-27-25 Musings on Empathy (Kathleen Gionis) (A/SCF)

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MUSINGS ON EMPATHY

Empathy had been on my mind for the past month or two, ever since I heard some commentators discussing Elon Musk’s view on empathy when he reportedly stated in an interview that, “The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy. The empathy exploit.” This is not the first time that Musk had expressed this view, but it was the first time I had ever heard such an outrageous statement. He has expressed this view before, that empathy is not an asset, in other interviews and in counseling his family members.

Then, to heap more fuel on this fire, I listened to the view of a conservative clergy person that empathy is particularly harmful to Christian women, because Christian women are vulnerable to be taken advantage of and need to be protected from those who would prey upon the women being taken in by (apparently) empathetic propaganda.

This got me to thinking about empathy and that Jesus was a prime example of the empathetic soul. I started searching my memory for examples of Jesus demonstrating empathy. Jesus, as God’s son, exemplifies empathy through his actions and teachings. His compassion for the marginalized, his healing of the sick, and his willingness to suffer with others demonstrate the importance of empathy in Christian life. Empathy is not just about feeling for others but is about acting on those feelings to alleviate suffering and meet the needs of others. This is demonstrated in passages like Luke 10:30-35 where the Good Samaritan shows empathy and compassion when he comes upon a man who has been attacked and robbed and left to die. He bandages the man’s wounds by pouring oil and wine on them and takes the man to an inn on the Samaritan’s own donkey and pays the innkeeper to look after the man. Jesus contrasts this against the Priest and Levite who passed by the man and did not offer any help.

Jesus had compassion on large crowds, often healing the sick and providing for their needs. Jesus healed the blind, restored hearing, cured those unable to walk. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and thus demonstrated his profound empathy for his friend and the grieving sisters.

Some people view Empathy as a core Christian value, shining a light on the importance of understanding and sharing in the suffering of others. Furthermore, Jesus acted upon his understanding others’ needs and pain, alleviating suffering and offering healing.

Scriptural passages emphasize the importance of empathy, such as is in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep”, and 1 Peter 3:8, “Be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, and humble.”

So, it is amazing that the passing of Pope Francis has brought forth the description of the Pope in almost every news article and tv and radio commentary as being widely known for his deep sense of empathy and compassion, which he consistently demonstrated throughout his papacy. He championed the marginalized, the poor and those facing injustice, showing a particular concern for migrants, refugees and those in need. He spoke out against inequality and oppression and advocated for the poor and needy. He spoke out against poverty and discrimination. He spoke out about his concern for the human cost of migration, advocating for compassion and understanding toward those seeking a new life. I heard a quote from the Pope this week that I wrote down: “I refuse to see any human being as a problem.” This stands in stark opposition to what is going on in our country regarding our government’s unwelcoming actions toward migrants, students, and even people here legally but who are not citizens.

This past week I heard a part of a broadcast that really struck home. Apparently the government is once again failing to honor our treaties with the Native American people. It was pointed out that non-native people here today are the
“migrants” of yesterday. We have short memories, and faulty ones at that.

Empathy is a path to love and unity. Empathy fosters understanding and connection between people, leading to greater unity and love within the Christian community. By practicing empathy, Christians can better love and serve others, reflecting God’s love and compassion for the world.

So my musings on empathy of few weeks ago came to the forefront this past week with the passing of the Pope who stands as an example for all of us to express our love for our brothers and sisters, to be empathetic and act when we are able to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate and to embrace compassion and empathy. Empathy is a core value of the Christian faith, and those that say anything differently don’t know any better, and that’s sad for them. But, I feel like I have it straight now in my mind and I will continue to believe that empathy is a virtue to be acquired and makes us all better people.

Amen