Scripture:
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Matthew 5:43-48
Reflection:
Today’s Gospel tells us to be kind: “Be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”. MT 5:45 Luke’s account adds: “and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. “LK 6:35 The word Kind comes from old English word for kinship. We should be kind as much as to our closest relatives! The Greek word for kindness in the inspired NT scriptural text is Chaestos which means being willing to be serviceable to someone! The Old Testament Hebrew word with same meaning is “HINENI“ “Here I am” i.e. ready to help you!
Don’t you love kind people. Their thoughtfulness for us is cemented to our memory! I remember some 57 years ago I was driving down Interstate 70 when a tornado went right over my car, and I found myself and the car stuck deep in the mud off the road! In less than 5 minutes a trucker stopped and pulled me out. I don’t remember that good man’s name, but I vividly remember his kindness!
Mark Twain put it nicely when he wrote: “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see!” “Be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind,” “Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Rom 2:4
I like to finish with a few poetic lines from Mark Twain:
A little more kindness, A little less speed, A little more giving, A little less greed, A little more smile, A little less frown, A little less kicking, A man while he’s down, A little more “We”, A little less “I”, A little more laugh, A little less cry, A little more flowers, On the pathway of life, And fewer on graves, At the end of the strife.
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.