How are we to respond to human suffering in our time? What does solidarity with those who are suffering look like? What does compassion, meaning ‘to suffer with,’ really mean in a world that has erected all sorts of diversions—the economies of war, wealth disparities, and constant entertainment? If we are created in God’s image, and if there is so much suffering in the world, then God, too, must be suffering.

We’ll examine the lives and ministries of faithful Episcopalians whose lives embodied solidarity in suffering. While they responded to their times, circumstances, and the deep needs of others in unique and profound ways, we can draw inspiration and practical wisdom in their remarkable stories and find resonances in the present day.

Much has been written about redemptive suffering; that is, the possibility of suffering for the sake of justice or love leading to a greater good. Others counter that the concept is unjust and contributes to further victimization. We’ll question whether redemption is in the eye of the beholder and consider what roles grace and resurrection play in how we make meaning of our suffering.

1 in 6 Americans struggle with addiction at any given moment. Recovery and healing are found through solidarity with fellow addicts, forming community, and service to others.

The life of Jesus teaches us that God stands with the wounded, vulnerable, and forgotten, and that even where the cross is most present, the quiet power of the resurrection is already at work.

How are we to make sense of suffering when God so blithely allows the life of his servant Job to disintegrate into dust and ashes?