I’m always embarrassed when people praise me for doing something useful, or for helping out when I happen to notice a need. To me, this is the base setting; the pass grade. I learnt at my mother’s knee, by watching what she did, that

• if you belong to a group you take a role to support the group, whether it is baking cakes for a stall, setting out the cups for morning tea, chairing a meeting, or putting out the monthly newsletter
• people should be kind.

That’s it, really. My whole philosophy. Take responsibility and be kind to those whose lives intersect with yours. If everyone did that, what kind of a world would we live in?

I manage it, mostly. I know others who manage it heroically, and my hat is off to them. They get a B grade or maybe even an A plus.

Today at Mass, Fr Binu told a story that resonated with me.

A man saw a child begging on a street corner. He was clearly cold and hungry — dressed in rags and mere skin and bone.

“Oh God,” the man said, “Won’t you please help this child. Look at him. He is shivering in the cold, and he looks more than half starved.”

“I see him,” said God. “He hasn’t had anything to eat since yesterday morning. He has no family, and he is afraid to go to sleep at night because the other children steal everything he has. Even if he can stay awake, the bigger children beat him up and take it anyway.”

“That is dreadful, God. Something must be done to help him.”

“I agree,” God said. “He needs warm clothing and food. More than that, he needs a home and someone to love him for himself. Without those things he will die.”

The man felt dreadful, knowing that the boy was at such risk. “Then you must act quickly, God, before it is too late.”

“I have already acted,” God replied.

The man was very relieved. “Thank you so much, God. I knew I could count on you. What have you done?”

God said, “I have made you.”