Jesus continued his tour of all the towns. He taught in their synagogues, he proclaimed the good news of God's reign, and he cured every sickness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity. Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind. Jesus sent these men on mission as the Twelve. As you go, make this announcement: "The reign of God is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons. The gift you have received, give as a gift."

Toward the end of the movie "Oliver Twist," the now-young gentleman Oliver requests that his benefactor, the kind book-seller Mr. Brownlow take him to see Fagin, the adult whom Oliver first met when he was exposed to the streets of London. Fagin had been condemned to death, and Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver to Fagin's cell where they find a pathetic, self-pitying, ruined man who is far from the Fagin that we met at the beginning of the movie. Oliver asks Fagin to pray with him. Oliver prays, "Oh God, forgive this man," and then looking at Fagin directly, he says, "You were kind to me."    

According to movie critics, Roman Polanski, the director of the movie "Oliver Twist" probably had personal reasons why he added the words "You were kind to me" to Dickens' rendition of the story. No doubt he had met many kind people during his own rather difficult up-bringing. It is a very good thought to dwell on. In the movie, we see kindness. Nancy was certainly kind to Oliver in her own way; Mr. Brownlow was the perfect example of a kind, trusting adult to Oliver. But, as he approached Fagin after all that had happened to him, much of it caused by Fagin himself, the young Oliver also recognized that an evil man could also be kind.

Christians are called to both recognize the kindness of others and actually be kind themselves. Jesus could definitely be direct and confronting in his life, as he was with the Pharisees and Sadducees, but he was mostly kind. In fact, throughout the Gospels, Jesus continually looked with pity on the crowds, preaching his Gospel of repentance, and at the same time, curing their illnesses, or in a word, was kind to the people who came to him. In fact, he reminded his Apostles, those sent out as his missionaries that the gifts they have received, they should also give. The very act of giving was an act of being kind.

It would probably be too strong a statement to say that the principal Christian virtue is kindness to others, but it would not be far from the truth. Jesus primarily taught a doctrine of love, love of God and love of others, even love of enemies. Any student of human behavior will recognize that one of the fruits of being a loving person is being kind.                  

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us the virtue of kindness in the way that he dealt with the people of his time. Help us in our living to see the importance of being kind. May we learn to thank the people who have been kind to us, and give us the grace to be kind to others. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America