“Serving in Hope thru Humility and Gentleness“

Sharing by Guido Kelly, ONRC President

The theme for our 2025 Spring Assembly is “Serving in Hope thru Humility and Gentleness”. These are all very simple words, however, when assembled as they are, the message is very powerful. This year of 2025 is a Jubilee Year for our entire Church as declared by Pope Francis. By his own words, the Pope is inviting each and everyone of us to experience the transforming power of God’s mercy and forgiveness, and a renewal of faith and commitment to love God and our neighbour as God has first loved us. So, before we dwell a wee bit on each of these simple words, please allow me to share a couple other things with you.

Most important, when Christ was departing earth, he shared with the apostles that he would send someone to be with them and us at all times…..that someone is the Holy Spirit, who sits among us as invited when we recite our Opening Prayer. Second, as part of our Society’s Vision we promise to bring Hope to the poor that we serve. Humility and Gentleness are two of the Essential Virtues that Vincentians use in emulating St. Vincent as we work with His poor.

So let us examine SERVING IN HOPE. As Vincentians we are called to “Serve in Hope” because we are called to bring the love of God to those who are poor and suffering, and therefore we must become rooted in the spirituality that is the heart and soul of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Serving in Hope is designed to move us from our heads into our hearts. As we listen to the words of Scripture during Mass when we attend, we allow the words of Jesus to sink deeper into our hearts, giving us a clearer understanding of our call as to why we said yes to our vocation in becoming Vincentians in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam.

Now as we turn to HUMILITY, we are called to acknowledge that everything we have is a free gift from God. Our talents, intelligence, skills, gifts, looks, pedigree, possessions, wit and influence are all gifts from God. God calls us to put away our pride and despair, as he is in charge and will protect us. Some of us boast in our arrogance, which leads nowhere. Christian humility is rooted in the Gospel. True humility is gospel humility. It is enabled by Jesus because he died for us. Humility serves. Humility gets down low and lifts others. Humility looks to the needs of others and gives time and effort to help with those needs. We learn from the gospel of Mark that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”. As we go on our visits, we ask, “Am I feeding my ego or am I feeding the faith of others?” The answer is, “HUMILITY SERVES”. So, Humility gives God the credit, especially for our gifts. Humility also cherishes the Gospel, serves others and knows greatness.

We have heard and learnt that the Holy Spirit works with us. He also works in us to be more like Christ and the result of that work is GENTLENESS. This may also be translated into “meekness” but it does not mean weakness. It involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite restrained behaviour toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger and a desire for revenge.
Henry Longfellow wrote a poem about the village blacksmith, a brawny man with large hands and very strong, who when he heard his daughter singing a church, he was overcome with emotion and used those hard rough hands to wipe away his tears. This is gentleness or might restrained. Gentleness places our strength under God’s guidance. We are all powerful in different ways, however, gentleness constrains and channels that power. So, it is because of the Holy Spirit constantly working in us that we build up that essential virtue.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with ease instead of arguing in resentment and anger. We will learn to forgive readily, because any offense towards us is nothing compared to our offences against God, and offenses that he has already forgiven. Gentleness means that we accept that the rain falls on both the evil and the just and God may use methods we do not like to reach our hearts and the hearts of others. If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will be filled with the fruit of Gentleness. So let the words, compassion, forgiveness, compromise, tolerate, love and joy flow freely within you this weekend.

Heavenly Father, You are selfless, humble and merciful and you ask us to follow your example. I cannot do that with my own strength. Thank you for empowering me with your Holy Spirit. My heart longs to be the servant You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.