13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Matthew 10:37 – 42

Simple Acts of Kindness

Magdala

Almost 2 years ago, Ginger and I moved into our new home down here in Tennessee.  It all started with a frantic car ride by Josh, our son-in-law, shuttling us and a few of our belongings from Chicago to Heiskell at the end of May. It was a move made not out of choice or comfort but out of necessity and circumstance. We then spent the next couple of months living with Jaime and the family as Jaime worked to manage Ginger’s health and I raced back and forth to Chicago to organize packing up and putting our Dakin house on the market!  Whew!  It was only mid-August that we finally moved into our country home!  It was/is a rollercoaster journey filled with daily worries and, at times, only a smattering of hope!

But through it all, we were supported and cared for by our St. Robert’s family in Chicago and our St Joseph family here in Tennessee.  Countless deliveries of meals and goodies, cards and well wishes, prayers and acts of compassion.  Old friends and new!  Friends or strangers!  They all went out of their way to provide comfort and support in such a difficult time!  They welcomed us into their parish and treated us like family!  One day we would hear a knock on the door and then greet a St Joseph parishioner with a freshly made meal. And I do mean a meal – not just a little casserole but main, salad, veggies, even bread and dessert.  She even provided hand-written instructions on how to re-heat the food!  Other days we would find a package from Chicago filled with a “Spoonful of Comfort” assortment of soups, breads and cookies! 

Now that is hospitality!!  Simple acts of kindness where you saw someone in need and you responded with Christian love!  Thank you one and all from the bottom of our hearts!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus concludes His instructions to the Apostles before sending them off to spread the Word.  And what strikes me are the very last words He speaks!  “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple– he will surely not lose his reward.”

No big show of generosity!  Just a simple act of kindness – giving a cup of cold water to a child! 

And so I ask you!  When was the last time you acted as a disciple of Jesus?  What was the last simple act of kindness you offered to someone in need, to a stranger?  What will be your next act of Christian love today?

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