Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “Kind words are short and easy to say, but their echo is eternal.” On this World Kindness Day, we invite you to deep reflection. How often are we tempted to end a conversation with family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors because, at some point, we find an impassable wall in front of us? But have we ever tried to get over that wall using the “ladder” of kindness?
Being kind is an act of courage
Pope Francis also reminds us that “we must set selfishness aside, be kind in our actions and thoughts, learn to offer a kind word, a smile that positively engages the other person and overcomes disagreements and conflicts.” It is not always easy; sometimes it is a true act of courage, but we must not give up. Every day, step by step, we can become builders of a different world.
Being kind means going against the tide
Kindness is the virtue of the strong; kindness leads us to look into the hearts of the people we meet along our path. Today, anger is often directed at others without listening to the deep feelings of those around us. Lack of respect, appreciation, and listening often prevails. We are almost afraid to build equal relationships and find together the path to communion and peace. Yet we are called precisely to rediscover the goodness in our brothers and sisters; we are called to perform acts of genuine kindness.
Saints, champions of kindness
The saints are our beacons; from them we learn to love God and our brothers and sisters. The saints are also an example of how kindness is the key to opening hearts. One saint who was a champion of kindness was Jan Berchmans, whom it is fitting to mention today. Jan did not found a religious order, perform heroic deeds, or live a life of absolute poverty; instead, he became a saint through his kindness, courtesy, and profound faithfulness to the Lord. During his short life, this Jesuit religious, born in Diest, Belgium, in 1599 and dying in Rome in 1621, had a profound union with God, which translated into love expressed in the circumstances of everyday life. Many small acts of kindness exerted an extraordinary charm and influence on those who knew him, explaining the surprising reputation for holiness that spread immediately after his death, both in Rome and abroad. There are many other examples to imitate, so many saints next door who have shown us, among other things, the way of kindness. There is no shortage of choice. Just think of Venerable Silvio Dissegna, who died in 1979 at just 12 years of age from bone cancer and wrote in his school essays that he always wanted to be kind. It is up to us to follow the example of our friends in heaven.
In the encyclical Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis reminds us that “it is still possible to choose to practice kindness. There are people who do so and become stars amid the darkness.” This is the invitation addressed to each of us: to bring light into the world’s night through revolutionary acts of kindness. Do you have any noteworthy story about kindness to share? If you wish, you can share it in the comments.
