We all do acts of kindness every day, but there are different acts of kindness. The first act of kindness is an act of kindness for ten seconds that expects repayment for a lifetime. We do an act of kindness and we expect to be thanked. We do an act of kindness and we expect to be remembered. We do an act of kindness and we feel bad when we are not recognized, when we are not appreciated. That is the lowest form of kindness.
The second type of kindness is when we do an act of kindness and we don’t expect anything in return. That act of kindness is done to somebody who really cannot pay us back. For example, it is done to a stranger, or to an anonymous person, and it is sent anonymously also. That is a higher form of kindness because it does not seek any repayment.
The third form of kindness which the Lord shows in the Gospel is not only a kindness that seeks something, not only an act of kindness that does not seek anything, rather it is an act of kindness where the one who does it gets punished for doing it. He performs an act of kindness towards a man. He does not expect any gratitude from the man with a withered hand. He knew that he would get punished for doing that. The Scribes and Pharisees were so enraged that they discussed how to make life more difficult for Jesus for having done such an act of kindness.
Was there ever a time in your life when you did an act of kindness which nobody appreciated and ill motives were imputed towards you?
Was there ever a time in your life when you did an act of kindness anonymously and you got punished for doing that act? If ever such a thing or such an incident happened to you, or happens to you, say a prayer of thanksgiving because then you know how Jesus felt.
ACTS OF KINDNESS
Lk. 6:1-11
Love Like Jesus