Lenten Reflection for March 10th

An International calendar marks February 17th as the World Day of Kindness, where everyone is encouraged to provide little ‘random’ acts of kindness toward others. Such as letting someone else ahead of you in line or offering a sincere compliment to a stranger. There is even a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation set up!

This made me wonder, for us as followers of Christ, are any acts of kindness we show really ‘random’? We are called to show Kindness in Scripture. Christ gives us this command in Luke’s Gospel,  “...rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:35-36)

Part of our reflection on Right Judgment has shown that discerning the guidance from the Holy Spirit and choosing rightly involves the choice to be kind to one another especially in those times we don’t feel that grace within ourselves. Choosing compassion and extending mercy to those we might feel aren’t really deserving of it at the moment. 

Many times the wrong choices seem like the easier option and we might convince ourselves that ‘just this time it won’t be harmful’. One ‘easy but wrong’ choice will lead to another and if we continue in that direction we risk getting lost.

In another reflection I read by a priest regarding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, he says that the Gift of Right Judgment often goes hand in hand with the Gift of Courage. Emboldened in being open to receiving the Gift of Counsel and to choose to act on it when we feel prompted to show Kindness.  This is to choose Love.

Perhaps when we do a ‘random act of kindness’ for another, we can offer it up as a prayer of gratitude for what the Lord has given to us.

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Did you know there is a day known as the World Day of Kindness? It occurs every year on February 17th and during that day we are all encouraged to show extra kindness to others. Maybe doing extra chores, helping a sibling or complimenting a friend. 

We should know though, that we as Christians are taught to be kind to others every day, not just one day a year. Jesus Himself tells us to “...love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  (Luke 6:35-36) This means we are meant to show kindness on days when we don’t feel like it and to people who we might feel don’t deserve our kindness.

These are the times it can be hardest to make the right decision as it can feel easier to just do nothing and not show kindness. God has been kind to us and given us all His Love. To choose to be kind is to choose to show God’s Love to others and this usually means we also need Patience and Courage to do so. The next time we show Kindness to others, let’s try to remember it as a prayer of thanks to God for what He has given to us.

God bless you!