If I am being honest, I have to admit that writing about hope in the face of violence felt like a big challenge this week. It has become so clear that there are people in our country everyday who face violence far too often with no sign of relief in sight. Some of that is physical violence, but it can also be political violence, religious violence, emotional violence, and so many more. This word of hope is intended for the very people in these circumstances, and still it feels like a trite solution when it must seem like the Christians who profess to follow Jesus do not step in to stop the oppression and violence.

For me, the most hopeful part of this passage is when the suffering servant is emboldened by his community and says, “Let us stand up together.” He knows that he is stronger when he is not standing alone. Brothers and sisters, we are called to stand with those who are suffering in our world: refugees, addicts, lonely millionaires, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ persons and bullied teenagers. The list could go on and on and on. The point is, when we see another suffering, whether it is their own fault or not, our call as followers of Christ, the one who suffered for us all, is to stand with them and be with them in their suffering. May we all find ourselves suffering with someone else this week.