When I see the crowds gathering throughout our nation and world, I see the protesters. But I also see the police and other law enforcement officers and the military. And I see the people hunkered down in their homes and businesses, scared and disquieted by what is happening.

The response of Jesus to the crowds of our day is the same as his response to the crowds of his day when he walked this earth as the one from Nazareth: “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them.” Not some of them, but all of them on both sides of the increasing numbers of fences and barricades. Not just those in the streets, but also those in their homes and businesses. All of us.

Jesus had compassion for them. Jesus has compassion for us. Compassion is a wonderful word, the roots of which in Latin mean to “suffer with.” The New Testament Greek is even stronger: basically, Jesus had a gut-wrenching response to the harassed, the helpless, the shepherdless. He felt their pain in the deepest places of his body and being.

It was this gut-wrenching compassion that motivated Jesus to call together his twelve disciples, named in the longer version of today’s reading, to send them into and among these crowds to proclaim the nearness of God’s reign in ways that bring healing.

So, too, are we as Jesus’ contemporary disciples sent among the crowds – whoever the crowds may be in the particularities of our own circumstances.

This is not an easy calling. Listen again to Jesus’ commentary about his sending of the disciples into the thick of things that provoke the sense of feeling harassed, helpless and shepherdless: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their [religious assemblies]; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.” (Matthew 10:16-18)

Our witness to God’s reign of healing may propel us into situations and circumstances that take us well beyond our comfort zones, to say the least.

But pay attention to what motivates your engagement in the struggles of our day. There are any number of strong emotions that are driving people into the streets and provoking other reactions and responses. Some feel righteous indignation and burn with a passion for justice. Others are raging angry and want to tear down and destroy and maybe kill. Others seek to preserve good order. The motivations may be as many as the number of people both in the streets and otherwise engaging in other responses.

Know this: the faithful motivation for disciples of Jesus who are called to be among the crowds is compassion, the gut-wrenching love and mercy that seeks to shepherd the harassed and helpless, whoever they may be, on whatever ends or middle of the spectrum.

We are called to do our share of shepherding, motivated and exemplified by Jesus’ own compassion. But who is going to shepherd us? We, too, may feel harassed and helpless.

Please remember this: we are not, in fact, sheep without a shepherd, though it may feel that way sometimes.

Indeed, Jesus, the Good Shepherd remains in our midst in the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through Jesus’ word just as he promised at the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel even as he there promises to come again: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

So it is that Jesus offered to his followers and offers to us these particular words of assurance to guide us in our bearing witness to God’s healing reign: “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20)

I take great comfort in this promise. Given the three-dimensional crisis we are enduring, I have no idea what is before me as a pastor called to publicly proclaim the gospel. I have no idea what in particular is before us as a congregation. I have no idea how all of this will unfold or unravel or how things and relationships will be rebuilt in our nation and world in coming months and years.

All I know is that Jesus sends me and Jesus sends you into the thick of things, into the varied harassed, helpless crowds of our lives and of our days, whoever they may be and wherever they may be.

It’s not easy. But I trust that Jesus, our shepherd, will lead me and lead us all the way.

Now I invite your particular engagement, your reflection if you are on your own, and your conversation if you are at home with others. Here are some questions to consider:

• Who are the crowds to which you are sent, and where are those crowds?
• What truly motivates your engagement with the world?
• How can we nurture a greater spirit of compassion in our current day?
• In what ways might your discipleship take you beyond your comfort zones?
• What words of assurance from Jesus give you courage to meet the challenges ahead?

Engage one or more of these questions as you are drawn, in ways appropriate to your circumstances at home. Let these questions linger with you through the day and in the coming week.

God bless your reflections and your holy conversations. In Jesus’ name. Amen.