the living expression of God's kindness... and that picture I promised

“If we see someone who needs help, do we stop? There is so much suffering and poverty, and a great need for good Samaritans.”

~Pope Francis on Twitter, December 9

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

photo via http://blog.texasnuns.com/ 

We drove up early to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Hillsboro, only to find out that the Sunday morning Mass had been canceled. Instead, we met a wonderful woman who opened up the church so that we could go in and say a prayer.

When she realized that there was now a small crowd of us in the pews praying, our Good Samaritan walked up to the altar and offered to read out loud the Sunday readings.

Sitting in this small crowd of strangers in a cold, dark church—with only the votive candles by the image of Our Lady of Mercy and the red sanctuary light, we were touched and fed by the Word of God reflectively proclaimed by our sister in faith. 

Her act of generosity and kindness was one of the most profound homilies I’ve heard proclaimed!

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And as promised, here's that picture of my First Communion, from my all-girls school Colegio de la Inmaculada... I told you that we looked like little nuns!

Colegio de la Inmaculada, 1968