Kindness in Action, the Word made flesh

"Mary, the Mother of Jesus, gave us the most beautiful example of how to live. She said 'Yes' to God, and then she went in haste to serve her cousin Elizabeth. Our life must be like that: a 'Yes' to God that turns into service." — Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)

The Insight: "Haste" of the Heart

This quote is powerful because of the phrase "in haste". In the story of the Nativity, Mary did not just keep the miracle to herself. She immediately turned her faith into real-world action by travelling to help her family. The birth of Jesus shows that God’s love is not just an idea or a private feeling. This is the meaning of the "Word made flesh". Just as Mary gave Jesus a physical body so He could be with us, we are called to make our beliefs "real" through the things we do for others.

How to use this in your life

To follow Mary’s example, you can try a practice called "Kindness in Action". This means turning a good thought into a helpful act as quickly as possible.

• The "Three-Minute Rule": If you have a kind thought (like "I should check on my neighbour" or "I should thank my colleague or teacher"), do not wait. Like Mary, "go in haste". If the task takes less than three minutes, do it the moment you think of it.
• Audit your "Yes": Once a week, look at your schedule. Ask yourself: "Is my 'Yes' just a thought in my head, or am I actually helping someone else?"
• Find a "Manger" in your day: Pick a boring or repetitive task (like washing up, travelling to work, or doing chores). Use that time to think about bringing peace to the world. Instead of rushing through it to get it over with, treat the task as a way to serve the people around you.