Be Humble and Kind in an Unkind World
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
By Emily Dickinson
What is our mission?
John the Baptist had a mission to be the forerunner for Jesus. He was sent to prepare the hearts of the people through the baptism of repentance. He knew his mission and played his part well. Jesus too played his part. He humbled himself to be baptised by John that prepared him for his mission ahead and revealed him to the world.
“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Lk3:21-22). It was a moment of affirmation and revelation that Jesus was the son of God.
In his sermon, Fr. Dom shared his experience of baptising babies. He said he has observed some babies are attentive during baptism, while some are noisy and crying and others asleep. Very much like the babies, there are interested parishioners who are keen to participate and contribute. Some are nitpickers while others are indifferent to anything that happens in the church. As baptised Catholics, we have a mission, he stressed – to continue with the work of Christ.
Fr. Dom suggested the following to carry out our mission:
- Christ must increase and we must decrease- let go of everything that keeps us away from God.
- Be humble and kind- we live in an unkind world and a little bit of humility and kindness can bring the light of Christ to others. Let us not be quick to judge. Let God be the judge and we just carryout our mission.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-7)