WATCH: WEEK 15 | BE MY WITNESSES w/ BISHOP BOYEA | MISSION: COMFORT THE SORROWFUL: Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing says:

My sisters and brothers in the Lord,

Welcome to week fourteen of BMW, Be My Witnesses. We are now on the third of our mission challenges of this second cycle. Next week, we will start a third cycle. If you have friends you wish to invite to join us in this BMW journey, next week would be a good one to start. For now, let us look at another way for us to be witnesses, comforting the Sorrowful

Mission: Comfort the Sorrowful:

After Job had experienced all the evils inflicted upon him, three friends came to him. “[W]hen, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks and threw dust into the air over their heads. Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; for they saw how great was his suffering” (Job 2:12-13). In spite of their later verbal sparring, this first action of the friends was the best: silence and presence.

Once, one of my sisters raised a concern with me and as she was speaking, I interrupted with what I thought were excellent solutions. Then she simply looked at me and said, “Earl, I just want you to listen.” So, I replied, “I can do that!” My sister wanted me to share in her experience, not try to explain it or solve it. This kind of empathy can be our best approach to comforting others.

This can be especially true if we are with someone who has experienced great grief. We should not pretend that we understand what he or she is going through. Rather, we should listen and be patient. Sometimes, presence and no words are the best response. If, as the Psalm says, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed” (34:19), this is an attitude we can imitate.

We first need to be moved by what we see and hear. Jesus “was moved with pity” for the widow of Nain who had lost her son (Luke 9:13). Even in his last hours, Jesus was open to the repentant thief being crucified beside him, “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). And he wept with Mary over the death of her brother, Lazarus (Jn 11:35). This is allowing the pain of the other to enter into our lives rather than imposing our experiences on the other. Thus, as St. Paul tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

Certainly, we can provide physical support as that may be helpful. But we should also pray. Ultimately, the best comfort for anyone can only be provided by God. Not all are open to this possibility and for them we should offer a quiet, private prayer. For many others, however, if we offer to say a brief prayer, they will be open for us to do that right there and then. We should not hesitate.

My Challenge:

So, for this week’s challenge, if you encounter someone experiencing a difficulty, and they are open to it, offer to pray with them briefly. Then share this experience with your small group of fellow witnesses.

Until next week, may God Bless you.

+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing

P.S. Below is a video version of this week’s Be My Witnesses. Please do share with family and friends. Thank you. God bless you.