Jun 19-20, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Last week we talked about the danger of falling into compassion fatigue, when we are on the verge of burnout but keep going because of our “compassion.” How did Jesus our compassionate Lord prevented from falling into compassion fatigue?

We have no doubt that Jesus while on earth was a person who had amazing power, wisdom, and love, because He was the Son of God. But we also know that Jesus was a human being just like us, fully divine while being fully human. We see the human side of Jesus when he showed His sadness, anger, frustrations…, and physical needs for water, food and rest. He endured all the trials and temptations that humans experience, even greater ones.   The writer of Hebrews tells us “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15, 16) So as a human being, he experienced among other things, fatigue, and this despite His great compassion. There are in fact 21 verses in the Bible that refers to or show the compassion of God and in Christ. Some examples in Jesus: “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mt 9:36) Again, in Mt. 14:14, we read, “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” (cf. Mt. 20:34; Mk. 8:2-3)

When faced with these fatigues, what did Jesus do? After a long period of teaching, and after hearing the terrible news of the brutal death of John the Baptist who was his “forerunner,” he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself (Mt 14:13). After his failure to find rest because the crowds followed him, and after another day of ministries and performing a miracle to feed tens of thousands of followers, Jesus again continued his quest for rest. We read, “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…” (Mt. 14:22,23) Jesus sought to rest and pray to the Father at the end of each of His gruesome travel and tiring ministries. Therein lies the secret of His ability to overcome physical and compassion fatigue, and continued to display His power as the Son of God.

The pandemic has taken a lot out of us, especially those of us who are trying to keep up with serving others despite not being able to meet together. Many of us have repeatedly conducted our teaching, caring, witnessing and preaching ministries online. Many of us are experiencing Zoom fatigue, I know I am. We have all done this out of love and compassion. Lest we fall into physical and compassion fatigue, let us live out the life of faith with full reliance on God.  If and when we go back to some form of “normal” or go into a “new normal,” at the Church and start to be busy doing things again, may we remember that that must include and indeed do so pre-emptively, rest.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Your pastor,

Rev. Simon Lee