Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?
BE KIND
SETTING: photos of parents, grandparents and/or others who have shown you the meaning of kindness.
Opening Reflection:
Jesus, you encouraged your friends to call
God “Abba”, an affectionate name for a kind
and loving parent. This is the God who makes the
sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain
on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
Help me imitate this kindness towards all,
not only in this time of anxiety and concern
for our health, but in all the days ahead,
in all my thinking
in all I speak
in all I do.
Chapters five and six of Matthew’s gospel narrative provide much of Jesus’ teaching relating to kindness. The Beatitudes highlight the desire of God for respect for the various conditions and situations of humanity, bless the poor in spirit, the gentle, those who mourn, who yearn for justice, etc; to be salt and light – giving flavour and brightness to life, to make peace, to forgive – to love your enemy, to pray, not to worry or overstress… All these are ingredients for or products of kindness. Use these chapters as background to prayer today.
Kindness is the language
which the deaf can hear
and the blind can see
[Mark Twain]
Kindness, the dictionary states, is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. From the beginning of this Covid-19 crisis, the call to BE KIND has been constant and penetrating. BE KIND echoes through the world from politicians, health professional and other authorities, suggesting this attitude holds a key to overcoming the pandemic. It might well do so.
This prayer time invites meditation and reflection on the beauty and power of KINDNESS and the act of BEING KIND. As the above quote from Mark Twain tells us, kindness has no boundaries but is skilled at removing them, no difficulty communicating and, like smiles and laughter can change darkness to light, sadness to joy, despair to hope.
SCRIPTURE – LUKE 1:67-79 – THE BENEDICTUS
The birth of John the Baptist prompts his father, Zechariah, to praise God, acknowledging this birth as a prelude to the coming of God’s “Promised One”, the Messiah, and to give thanks for God’s loving kindness (often translated as tender mercy). This Canticle of Praise is prayed daily in the Morning Prayer of the Church. There is rich treasure here for meditation on KINDNESS:
Blessed be the Lord…
who has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour
in the house of David his servant,
As he promised by the lips of those
who were his prophets from of old.
A saviour who would free us from our foes,
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our ancestors is fulfilled
and the holy covenant remembered.
He swore to our ancestor Abraham, that
free from fear and saved from the hands of our foes,
we night serve him in holiness and justice
all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child,
you shall be called a prophet of God the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way before him,
To make known to his people their salvation
through forgiveness of all their sins,
the loving kindness of the heart of our God
who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness,
those who dwell in the shadow of death,
and guide us into the way of peace.
Read the passage at least twice, listening for the word or phrase that catches your “mind’s ear”. Return to that word/phrase. Let it sit with you as you ponder the theme, BE KIND. Contemplate the loving kindness or tender mercy of God in your life, your family’s life, in the world. Pray the Canticle for those lost in the darkness or shadow of Covid-19. Pray for kindness to endure.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven.
Your kindness, as your mercy, is everlasting
Your kingdom come.
Your reign is one of joy and gladness
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Your will is that we love one another and thus be a sign of your presence.
Give us today our daily bread.
Nourished by your love, we will be kind, gentle, compassionate.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Your forgiveness kindles our kindness, strengthens our weakness.
Save us from the time of trial.
Shelter us, shield us
Deliver us from evil.
Guide us into the way of peace.
For the kingdom, power and glory are your now and forever.
Love does not come to an end.
There is a WORLD KINDNESS DAY on 13 November each year when spontaneous acts of kindness are encouraged. What’s to stop you, me, us from making it a daily celebration?
[Make kindness the new normal]
