Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. — Psalm 100:2

Mass readings: Acts 16:1-10 / John 15:18-21 

He Shares Our Burdens 

I was a crybaby in elementary school. An imagined slight or sour word sent me running home to Mom. In first grade, I raced home coatless at recess to escape what I perceived as a mean comment from a classmate. Years later, as I wrote about that, I recalled one of the shortest sentences in Scripture: “Jesus wept.” It was a relief to reflect that He could empathize with my insecurities and fears. 

Today’s Gospel account of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse (“If the world hates you, realize it hated me first”) assures us there’s nothing we can encounter, endure, or enjoy that — in one way or another — Jesus didn’t experience first. Why do we sometimes assume He can’t understand our problems? After all, they were His before they were ours.  

Prayer: Jesus, when I feel alone and unloved, help me remember You stand beside me.