We live in a hurting world.

It is populated with the sick who are contending with chronic pain or illness. It is full of young people who resemble the walking dead as they crank their necks to stare at their phones and block the voices of family with earbuds so they can listen to the voices of strangers. It is inhabited by modern lepers who feel alone and isolated, believing the lie that no one cares about them. And there are those who fight demons of addiction and mental illness.

I don’t know what to do about the sick. I want to yell at the teens to look up from their phones and take those things out of their ears. I wish people didn’t feel so alone. And I feel bad for those caught in the web of addiction or carrying the burden of mental illness.

But what can I do about any of it?

Most of us just complain, feel bad, or just wish the world was different. In

Mathew 9, Jesus sends out his disciples. He instructs them, “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.”

When I was homebound after my first surgery, a few parishioners inquired about visiting my home. Since I live 33 miles away, I was so moved by their visits. Others brought meals or purchased meal delivery gift certificates. These acts helped my healing process. Who else do we know who needs a visit? Who needs a meal? Who needs a friend?

We cannot be frustrated with teens burying themselves in their technology, if we aren't willing to set down our phones, close our laptops, or turn off our televisions. We need to offer them relationships worth setting their entertainment aside.

We need to be courageous and greet the stranger at the store. We should call the relative who lives alone. We engage the coworker who seems a bit down.

And we should pray for and financially support organizations that aid those working to overcome addiction or mental illness.

Jesus never told his disciples, “Go out... and complain.”

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