Sunday, February 8, 2026

Dear bothers and sisters,

Some people stop being kind when burnout fills their lives with endless responsibilities. Stress drains their energy, fear pushes their minds into survival mode, and overwhelming emotions weigh heavily on their hearts because “what they must do” becomes an un-bearable burden. Others lose their kindness when helping, supporting, or sharing turns into an obligation rather than a choice. Some withdraw from charitable acts to protect themselves, when those they try to help, take advantage of their generosity and expect more than they can give. Others may also appear unkind because their living environment encourages selfishness, narrow-mindedness, or disengagement from volunteer work and compassionate activities. They hesitate to share their time, effort, or belongings when kind-ness does not offer any personal benefit, material gain, or social recognition.

Some people stop nurturing their faith when their intentions become fixed solely on material desires. A larger house, a more expen-sive car, better living conditions, and the pursuit of wealth fill their schedules, occupy their minds, and weigh on their he arts, leav-ing them little freedom to pray, little space to build a relationship with God, and little willingness to obey His commandments. Oth-ers struggle with faithfulness when the cross they are called to carry becomes a heavy burden without any visible reward, material gain, or social recognition. Some choose to walk by sight rather than by faith and fail under evil temptations, harmful influences, and destructive addictions. Others may lose their connection with God when their environment promotes wrong practices, immoral behaviors, and sinful beliefs that stand against divine teaching, social justice, and the order of natural law.

However, as Jesus warns in this weekend’s Gospel passage, we risk losing the very purpose of our lives when kindness fades, com-passion is withheld, or good deeds are driven by the desire for tangible gain. Without love, faith, and charity, we become tasteless salt and hidden light. Therefore, we are called to remain kind and faithful in an unkind and unfaithful world, and to stay salty and luminous in a dark and tasteless one. This is not merely about what we choose to do or how we wish to be, but about who we are by nature and whose image we bear.

Let us remember this:
“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.