We are all unique and react differently to situations and events. When someone starts to tell us their story about something in their lives, replying by telling them a similar situation from our life story changes things for the person telling their story. It loads them with more information to process and pressurises them to respond to you.
Listening to someone's story, and asking them how they are, and how they feel, shows empathy. Keeping our story for another time shows empathy.
As someone tells their story, they get the chance to hear themselves and can start to make sense of what has happened, for themselves.
Listening shows empathy.