KINDLINESS ONE TO ANOTHER
by VP
Posted on Sunday August 31, 2025 at 12:00AM in Sunday Sermons
"He that showed mercy to him . . . and Jesus said to him: Go and do thou in like manner."-LUKE X. 37.
1. How many neglect to do "in like manner."
2. Love one another in thought, word, and deed.
3. Even in small things, how blessed by peace of conscience and piety.
4. But the greatest blessing is, by practicing kindliness, we grow like our Lord.
"THE touching parable of this day's Gospel contains many lessons, and amongst others, it is an instruction how we should fulfill that command of our Blessed Savior, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John xiii. 34). And the necessity for us to study this lesson is impressed on us by the fact that so many neglect this duty. This we see from the parable, for our Lord tells us how the priest and the Levite, representing good people and those who should have known their duty, passed by the wounded man; and it was left to a poor Samaritan - an outcast, as the Jews considered him - to give us an example of brotherly love. The very lawyer who had cross-questioned our Blessed Lord sought to evade the command by asking, "Who is my neighbor?" But he brought on himself the rebuke which forced from him the answer that will teach mankind until the end of time. Jesus said to him, "Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbor to him that fell amongst robbers?" He was compelled to answer, " He that showed mercy to him."
Love for our neighbor is a duty by the command of God. To love God is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. xxii. 39). And the practice of this duty is inculcated and explained in this parable. Anyone needing kindly assistance is our neighbor, and we are bound, according to our ability, to help him. Even by thought we can be charitable, and study how to comfort the afflicted and the dying. A pitying thought would lead us to pray, and with prayers we can follow even the dying, and rescue them from purgatory. By word, by comforting, consoling, advising those in trouble. By deed, by bestowing alms, taking trouble to assist them, by visiting the sick and the dying.
Alas! our neighborly love is often weak and attenuated for want of practice. We are so engrossed with ourselves, with our own comforts and well-being, that we forget others, and begrudge a little sacrifice for them. To some, perhaps, we are a little charitable: their misery appeals to us. Others we pass by: their poverty, disease, surroundings are repulsive to us. We cannot bring ourselves to the practice of kindly charity to them. We shudder at the remembrance of what so many saints and pious people have done-visiting the hospitals, seeking out the afflicted in their homes, and attending to them in their wretchedness.
But how many other ways are there of being charitable, that do not call for such heroism! Begin with humble little practices, but let them be daily ones. A daily practice soon becomes a habit, and little kindnesses will nourish our thoughtfulness, our generosity, and presently we shall find ourselves showing mercy and being blessed by it. The least thing done for Christ's sake is worthy of reward-even "a cup of cold water" given in His name. The rich man, who was buried in hell, cried out to Abraham for a drop of cold water to cool his tongue. He was past all mercy. But the souls in purgatory are longing for a little alleviation; and how many are totally forgotten by their friends, perhaps even by those to whom they had been so kind in life! Perhaps some fond mother suffering now for being too indulgent to us, and we heartlessly forget her. "Show mercy," by prayers, masses, and do not begrudge a Holy Communion offered for them. How blessed will be the reward of our charity, and how grateful we shall be for having practiced it, when our time comes to be judged and punished!
Amongst the rewards for kindliness to others, who can tell the peace of conscience and happiness that result from works of mercy, or even from words of consolation, with which we have comforted others? The hard-hearted, the selfish, the haughty cannot picture to themselves what they miss, and the comforting, holy joy of which they deprive their souls.
But the greatest blessing for being kindly one to another is this, that day by day we are growing more like our Blessed Lord, Who went about doing good to all. His spirit is filling our souls, and our hard and selfish hearts are being subdued and taking up the yoke of Christ. "Love one another as I have loved you." This is the motive that urges us to be kind and charitable; to grow like to Him should be our daily endeavor. Therefore a peace, that the world cannot understand, envelops our daily life, and by degrees this world and its love and its pleasures lose their fascination for us; and with joy we feel that it is heaven and the Lord of heaven to Whom we are seeking to attain.
Practicing kindliness, in little ways day after day, transforms our lives, and from being selfish and hard we grow prompt and generous, ready for some great occasion, which may arise, when we can prove ourselves imitators of our divine Master, and ready for His sake to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.
"Go and do thou in like manner." This He bids us do. Unless we attempt it, force ourselves to do it, we are disobeying; we are cowards. Self is our master; our Blessed Lord is ignored. No wonder our prayers are unheard; our passions unsubdued; the practice of piety repugnant. Our religion is merely an outward show; the spirit of Christ is not in our hearts; we hear, but heed not, His words, "Love one another as I have loved you."
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Francis Paulinus Hickey
Saint Raymond Nonnatus, Cardinal and Confessor, A.D. 1240.
by VP
Posted on Sunday August 31, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He improved a pious education by learning; and being directed by heaven, entered into a religious Order, which had been then lately founded for the redemption of captives. In this state he gave proof of his wonderful charity, by going into Africa; and having purchased the liberty of many with money, he gave himself in exchange for others, whom he perceived to be in danger of renouncing their faith. He extended his charity likewise to the Mahometans; and having by his preaching converted many, he was cast into prison, and after many torments, had his lips bored, and fastened together with a lock. After a tedious suffering, returning home, he was made a cardinal; but while he accepted the dignity, he renounced the state, living in a private and humble way, till God called him from his captivity to perfect freedom. His death happened in the year 1240, the thirty-seventh of his age.
Pray for all Christians who are in slavery amongst infidels, that
God would give them patience and comfort in their troubles, and
constancy in their faith. If you cannot do them any other charity,
deprive them not of this. Pray for all who are in the worst slavery of sin and vicious passions. If you considered the tyranny of evil spirits, to which these are subject, their misery would move your compassion, and oblige you to importune heaven daily for
their liberty. See if you have no part in this misfortune; and labour
in time to disengage yourself, lest through neglect, your chains be
doubled upon you. If there be difficulty in breaking them, while they
are yet weak, will not this be still greater as they gain strength? And
yet broken they must be, if you think of being for ever happy. (...)" The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Collect for the Feast of Saint Raymond Nonnatus
O God, Who didst make blessed Raymund, Thy confessor, wonderful in delivering Thy faithful held in captivity by the infidels, grant us by his intercession that, being loosed from the bonds of our sins, we may with quiet minds perform those things which are pleasing to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen. (Source: Saint Andrew Daily Missal by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, Liturgical Apostolate, 1959.)
Novena Prayer to St. Raymond Nonnatus
Glorious St. Raymond filled with compassion for those who invoke thee and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of Thee under thy special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with thee and Mary and the saints praising and blessing for all eternity, Amen
Good St. Raymond pray for us and obtain our request.
Good St. Raymond pray for us and obtain our request.
Good St. Raymond pray for us and obtain our request.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father.
