There’s kindness. And then there’s kindness.

Not that there’s anything wrong with doing something nice for someone who can do something nice for you. But if you’ve ever wondered how God looks at our acts of kindness towards each other, Jesus lets us know where our priorities need to be.

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.”

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

What really pleases God?

Helping someone who needs it. Who cannot pay you back. When you know there’s nothing in it for you. And you help them anyway.

We cannot be reminded enough of the people who desperately need our help, who can offer us nothing in return.

Which is why the Church makes a big deal out of All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is a reminder of the most helpless people of all. The poor souls in Purgatory.

We might bump into a homeless person. Or someone else in need. Just seeing them could move us to help.

But the Holy Souls in Purgatory? We’ve got to go out of our way to even think about them.

So what can we do to help them? That’s the easy part.

During the current pandemic, the Church has extended the graces usually obtained by visiting a cemetery to pray for the dead to spiritually uniting with other faithful to pray for the dead from home.

Today, All Souls’ Day, at 3:00 pm CT, let’s get together on the St. Aloysius Catholic Church Facebook page.

I will be livestreaming from Calvary Cemetery, praying the Office for the Dead – for the dead of our parish and for those who have no one to pray for them. Let’s pray it together.

An announcement with the date, the time – and the text of the Office for the Dead – is on the St. Aloysius Catholic Church Facebook page.

Please join me today in obtaining the grace of God’s mercy for our dear departed.

There’s kindness, and then there’s kindness.

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

What really pleases God?

Helping someone who needs it, who cannot pay you back. When you know there’s nothing in it for you. And you help them anyway.

We cannot be reminded enough of the people who desperately need our help, who can offer us nothing in return.

Which is why the Church makes a big deal out of All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day is a reminder of the most helpless people of all. The Holy Souls in Purgatory.

We might bump into a homeless person. Or someone else in need. Just seeing them could move us to help.

But the Holy Souls in Purgatory? We’ve got to go out of our way to even think about them. Much less help them.

So how can you and I do?

For starters, here’s a little something on visiting a cemetery. And just how easy it is to help the most helpless of all. Especially during the octave of All Souls’ Day.