In modern society, it is common for people to overthink and feel the need to openly demonstrate their kind acts. Just as the Gospel shared, that is not what God calls us to do. He calls us to do kind acts for His praise and glory, not our own. We may take actions and say words not for others but for ourselves, which is what God advises against. It is not told to give up your entire existence for another person, but a kind word, a smile, or a compliment is the type of light that God wants us to illuminate this world with. We may feel judged or ridiculed, but we aren’t doing these things for the approval of others, we do it for God. Not only are we called to help others, but also to treasure our relationship with God. His covenant with us is a beautiful present given to us at birth. Whether others are around or not, thank God for that. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what to say, but simply being in silence and saying, “God, I don’t know what to do, but I know you do.” goes a long way. At the end of the day, when you do these tasks, whether you are in private or not, human eyes don’t matter, but the eyes of God do. He created you, and He will never leave you.
No one is saying that it is a sin if you perform these actions in public, but if that is the only way you do these acts, then who are you really doing them for?
So, the next time you feel the need to publicly exemplify your kindness or prayerfulness, take a step back and think about why you’re doing this. Are you doing it for another person’s satisfaction or for God’s?
Elizabeth Guzman
Albertus Magnus High School, Class of 2026