Love Kindness

Blog Published: July 23, 2012
By Sister Julie

There are so many ways to pray, mottos to live by, and guidelines for a happy life. Over the years, I’ve looked to Scripture, saints and holy people, the Catholic faith, God’s good creation, and the tradition of religious life for inspiration and a deepening of my life with God. Now maybe I’m getting old or my attention span is shortening. Or maybe my hope for a more simpler way of life is catching up with me. Whatever the case, I find more often than not that it is less words and more succinct images that appeal to me and stay with me.

Today’s reading is a reminder of one of those nuggets of goodness that stays with me, marinates in my soul, and gives me a lens through with to view and engage with the world this moment, this day, this week.

God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does God require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

KindessOne of the things that strikes me today is the phrase “love kindness”. The prophet is not content to say, “be kind”, but says “love kindness”. To me, there is a sense of needing to “own” or to interiorize the virtue of kindness, not just to “do” the act of kindness which of course is also a good thing! It seems also to call us to be kind to ourselves which is sometimes the hardest thing of all to do.

How do you understand or practice this call to love kindness? We’d love to hear from you! Comment here on the blog and we’ll join you in conversation!

Archived Comments

Jean July 23, 2012 at 9:54 am

I think to “love kindness” is spiritual progress. Love and kindness are the Fruit of the Spirit, whereas doing and walking, are not. Juxtaposing love and kindness (loving-kindness) should be all the more virtuous.

Sister Julie July 23, 2012 at 2:28 pm

It’s like a double shot of espresso! And I agree that it is a good sign of spiritual progress, sort of like taking the gifts we’ve been given and putting them to good use. 

Eileen Ann de Bruin July 23, 2012 at 1:16 pm

Yes, I like this – very short but very profound. No other instructions needed – do justice and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

Sister Julie July 23, 2012 at 3:01 pm

Amen, Eileen Ann.

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