Series: The Power of Kindness

Kindness is a virtue that needs to be cherished and cultivated. Regular practices become habits which, in turn, become deeply ingrained and shape our identity. Our actions determine us as much as we determine our actions. Indeed, kindness begets kindness. We are made kind by being kind.

In the fifth century, before envy was listed by the Church as one of the seven deadly sins, the virtue, able to fight its deleterious effects, was coined. This virtue is kindness. And, if one looks attentively at the world’s social and spiritual history, one will find
that it is still able to help us in our struggle to live better in a kinder world.

Kindness and mercy is at the heart of the Christian message. Jesus said: “You received without pay, give without pay.” The Church must, therefore, seek to put mercy into practice and to proclaim it to the men and women of today.

Christianity and kindness go hand-in-hand. One may even add that the unkind person betrays the Christian faith, which is essentially the practice of the love of God and neighbor. This is the good news that the missionaries brought to the Philippines, and we still can learn from it today.