Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
“Charity makes us understanding, ready to forgive, fit to live alongside everyone, so that those who think and act differently from us in social, political, and even in religious matters will also have a claim on our respect and charity… Love and courtesy of this kind should not, of course, make us indifferent to truth and goodness. Love, in fact, impels the followers of Christ to proclaim to all men the truth that saves. But we must distinguish between the error – which must always be rejected – and the one who is in error, for he never loses his dignity as a person even though he flounders amid false or inadequate religious ideas. A disciple of Christ will never treat anyone badly. Error he will call error, but he will correct the person in error with kindliness. Otherwise he will not be able to help him, to sanctify him.”
Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) in Friends of God: Homilies by Josemaría Escrivá (Sinag-Tala Publishers, 1977) 9.
In my reading of In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3, by Francis Fernandez, on my travels, I came across this quote. I loved it. It reminded me of the people I have been with: gentle and kind people.
What a gift to interact with gentle and kind people like Milan and Hana Hluchý. They exhibit charity, grace-filled love. Of course, this makes me think of my wife too. And today Escrivá explains the implications of this posture for our ministry.
Those who exhibit this gentleness and kindliness are able to help people and even sanctify them. Because they call error for what it is while not treating anyone badly, they have a unique position to minister and restore.
The lesson for us today linked to generosity is clear: as disciples of Christ, when we choose the path of gentleness and kindness, it makes us “understanding, ready to forgive, and fit to live alongside everyone.”
Thanks for your prayers for Gabriel Hakilín and me navigating 4 countries in 4 days. We slept in Vranov, Czech Republic, and fly from Vienna, Austria to Warsaw, Poland, this morning.
We will connect with the newest GTP staff member there, Olena Hetman. Pray for her as she begins her service this month as GTP Financial Controller and Regional Trainer for Europe.