Small acts of kindness

When I read the story Les Misérables, I was moved by the way the bishop’s single act of kindness transforms the life of the escaped convict, Jean Valjean. When Valjean is caught stealing the bishop’s candlesticks, the bishop simply says to the police, “He didn’t steal them; I gave them to him.” That moment turns Valjean’s life around. He finds hope and new meaning in life and goes on to do good for others.

That single act of kindness is like the mustard seed.

My forgiveness towards someone who has wronged me, my word of encouragement to someone in despair, my gesture of welcome to a stranger: these can be the mustard seed that will grow and bear fruit in that person’s life in ways that I may never know.

O God, may I be aware of how important my small gestures of love can be for someone else.

There are pivotal moments in our lives that affect everything else that follows. These include times of choosing an educational and career path, deciding whether to marry, or contemplating a move to another city or even another country. We cannot avoid the consequences of such decisions, because even the choice not to decide will bring consequences.

The most important decision each of us faces is how to respond to God’s call. We are all challenged to decide how important God will be in our lives. How we respond affects everything else that we think and do.

God entered directly into the world through Jesus, and Jesus in turn enters directly into our lives. Jesus told people when he met them that the moment of decision was at hand. They could not delay any longer. God’s reign on earth was beginning and they had to decide whether or not to be part of that.

Today, Jesus presents us with the same challenge that he gave to the disciples: “Come follow me.” The disciples’ response changed them and the world around them. That will happen to us too if we respond as they did, without hesitation or reservation. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” Our time of decision is at hand.

John McLaughlin