Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 6 Part B The Fruit of Kindness.

 Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit – Week 6 – The Fruit of Kindness

As we continue our journey through the fruits of the Holy Spirit, this week we pause to reflect on a virtue that sounds gentle and simple but is often greatly misunderstood in its strength: Kindness.

What is Kindness?

Kindness is more than being nice. It’s not about polite words or a forced smile. Kindness flows from a heart that is rooted in God’s love—a heart that sees the other as someone created in the image of God and responds with tenderness, compassion, and mercy.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1832) lists kindness among the twelve traditional fruits of the Holy Spirit. It’s closely aligned with charity (love) and goodness, but kindness expresses itself in how we treat others moment by moment—with gentleness, patience, and compassion, especially when it is undeserved.

What Does Scripture Say?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32

“Love is patient, love is kind...”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...”
— Galatians 5:22

Kindness is an overflow of the Spirit working in us. When we are truly connected to Christ, kindness becomes less of an effort and more of a habit—something that radiates from within.

How Does Kindness Relate to the Gifts?

Kindness is deeply linked to the gifts of the Holy Spirit—especially the gifts of Piety, Wisdom, and Counsel. These gifts help us see others as God sees them and to respond not with judgment or irritation but with a generous spirit. Wisdom helps us discern what is truly needed; Counsel helps us respond appropriately; and Piety moves us with love and reverence for the other.

Kindness is not weakness. In fact, it takes great strength to be kind when circumstances are difficult, when people are rude, or when we ourselves are tired or wounded. But when we lean into the Holy Spirit, we find that kindness is no longer just something we try to do—it’s something we begin to become.

Practicing Kindness in Daily Life

• Pause before reacting – Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is pause and not speak the first thing that comes to mind.
• Acknowledge others – A warm smile, a greeting, a kind word to someone who feels invisible can be deeply healing.
• Be gentle with people’s faults – Kindness sees weakness but chooses not to punish it. This also applies to our own faults. Acknowledge the fault to God but be kind to yourself just as Jesus is merciful to you. We need to learn that same kindness and mercy.
• Help quietly – A kind act without expecting recognition is the most beautiful expression of this fruit.
• Speak truth with love – Kindness does not avoid truth but delivers it with mercy and tenderness.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you notice the people who need a little more kindness this week.

 

Scripture to Pray With

Take sometime this week to pray with these verses:

• Titus 3:4-5 – “When the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us…”
• Proverbs 31:26 – “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
• Colossians 3:12 – “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

 

Opportunity to Journal

You may like to reflect on one or more of these:

1. How do I understand the difference between being kind and being nice?
2. In what areas of my life do I struggle to be kind?
3. Have I ever been the recipient of unexpected kindness? How did it change me?
4. Which gifts of the Holy Spirit do I need to rely on more in order to grow in kindness?
5. How can I show kindness to myself this week?

 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your fruit of kindness. Let me be a vessel of gentleness, compassion, and strength to those I encounter. Teach me to reflect Your mercy and tenderness in a world so in need of it. Amen.