There are two changes that we would like to make in our lives as we pursue sainthood today. The first of those qualities feeds in to the other.
Kindness is first. It is defined as the quality of being generous and considerate. There are too many times where we get confused and think that to be a saint means that we have to be nice. We confuse kindness with niceness. As we look at where we are going on this journey towards sainthood, we have to reflect on our own amount (or lack thereof) of generosity.
There are a lot of people who have no problem being generous to the ones that they love. They are generous with their goods, food, and money when it comes to family and even to friends. The door is never locked and there are always good conversations and quality time to be had when friends arrive at the house.
What makes a saint different in this regard?
Generosity for enemies.
That means that we are generous even when it hurts. We are to be generous even when there is a danger that someone is going to "walk all over us." We are to be generous even when it costs us much more than we anticipate, where there is no chance of "return on the investment."
That is what makes saints different in their kindness. That is what makes saints who they are.
The same goes for being considerate. What does it matter when you are considerate to someone who praises you or builds you up or tells you how great you are? That doesn't mean nearly as much as someone who is considerate to those that persecute them, to those that are angry at them, to those who refuse to return that consideration.
It is when we are able to be kind in this regard that we can be considered good. To be good is to have moral excellence and that means to be outstanding in our virtue. Outstanding in our morals. To be above reproach.
This doesn't mean that there will not be failings or that we will have times where it will be difficult and we will fall. That is to be expected. That is also the time when we need to extend the kindness that we have extended to others to the person that is standing in the mirror right before us.
We must be kind to ourselves.
We must be generous in our forgiveness of ourselves.
In the same way, we must strive to change our lives to good lives that are kind to others. The world needs this in such a desperate way for every time, at every turn, it seems that we are looking for reasons to withhold our generosity, to find an excuse to NOT be good. We have reasons for it and excuses that are as long as our arms. Both arms, put together.
That's why this is a challenge. To be kind and good to the people around us even when they are rejecting us and spitting in our faces is no easy task.
Nothing less is required of a saint.
Questions for Reflection:
- Do you find that the world around you is kind and good? Why or why not? When do you find others to be the most and least kind? The most and least good?
- When is it easiest for you to be kind? What type of people is it easiest for you to be kind to?
- When is it easiest for you to be good? If there are a large group of people that are pulling you away from being good, is it difficult for you to do the right thing?
- When the idea of kindness comes to mind, are there people in your life that you have decided are "not worth" being kind to? People that for you, kindness is not really an option? Why? How can that change?
- How do we limit ourselves in our own goodness? Do we think that we have "done enough" or that we have been "good enough" when we feel we are being taken advantage of?
- Give something away. Give something away that will be difficult for you to give away either because of who you are giving it to or because the item is worth something.
- Make it a point today to strive for excellence in virtue in all that you do. At every moment carry faith, hope, love, courage, wisdom, self-control, and moderation with you so that you can be "good."
- Make a list of the times where it is difficult for you to be kind. What is a consistent theme in those situations? Do you find that you are not praying enough? That you lack the ability to see Christ in the other person? At the end of the week, find that one thing that is keeping you from being kind and surrender it to Christ, make it a point of change for yourself.
- Which of the virtues do you find that you lack on a regular basis or do you find that it is most difficult to keep up with? Why? Pick one and work on it for the week either through some type of fasting, prayer, or tithing (giving your time, talent, and treasure away).
- Sometimes family can be the most difficult people in our lives to be kind to. For the week, force yourself to be kind and good to your family.
Pray the Lectio Divina at some point in the day.
Psalm 51:12 (pray in the morning)
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
O My Jesus (pray at noon)
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.
Divine Praises (pray in the evening)
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit (before making a decision)
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Oh God, who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in that same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in his consolation. Through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Mother Teresa Prayer (Pray at 9am, 3pm, and 9pm)
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
