I’d like to take this opportunity to extend a personal thanks to NBC journalist Kerry Sanders for extending a hand of kindness. I witnessed his report from New Orleans today on the Today Show. Within the report, there was footage of Kerry crouched next to a weary, dehydrated man of 91 years, who was laying on his back on the cold floor of a shelter. Kerry took the bottled water he had at hand, as well as an energy bar, and attended to the man’s basic need for nourishment. This moved me deeply, but there was another aspect to Sander’s charity that I found especially touching.
The fact that Kerry took that most precious gift of time and gave it to this stranger, who not only needed nourishment of body but of soul as well, must not be overlooked. He took his time in the midst of chaos and suffering to converse with and try to raise the spirits of this man, who he may never see again.
As a Catholic, I’m familiar with the contemplative prayer of the Stations of the Cross. Though there is no mention in Scripture of one particular character contained therein, we hold as tradition that a woman named Veronica made her way through the jeering, abusive crowd that lined that bloody path. When she came face to face with the Man she knew to be her Lord, she took the veil from her head and wiped His bruised, beaten Face. In that moment, the madness that surrounded them disappeared - and Kindness silenced hatred. Christ left upon that veil the image of His Countenance.
So we see that where simple kindness is, there Christ will show His Face.
God bless,
Joe