When You Must, Use Words (07/17/2024)

He saw her coming up the stairs, gripping the handrail for stability. He smiled at her and spoke, “How are you doing today?” She stopped. Looked at him with a beaming smile, “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” He opened the door for her and held it as she entered the building. “Take care,” he said to her in parting, then he went on his way. Waiting for her, greeting her, and helping her by making her path easier only took seconds but it was a gift of value.

Daily we are called to be preachers along the way, individuals who share the Good News with others. The thing is, we can do it most effectively without citing chapter and verse. As St. Francis of Assisi told his followers, “Preach the gospel at all times, and, if necessary, use words.”

I see effective preachers around me daily, individuals who live the gospel and don’t just cite it. I see men and women who pick up their own crosses and yet still stop to help another with theirs. I see women and men with the gift of vision to see the needs of another and the gift of generosity to recognize their power to help the other. I see kindness acted out and graciousness lived on the sidewalks of my community, in my community’s stores, in the parking lots that dot my town. I have witnessed so many times the living of the Good News which makes a better sermon than words any day.  

We need to know the scriptures, to allow the WORD to penetrate our minds, our hearts, our souls. But we must realize that more often than not, what the moment requires isn’t a sermon with chapter and verse but rather the act of seeing the other and conveying through actions that the other matters and is loved.

Sometimes, we catch faith. But far more often, faith catches us. The act of another touches us, we notice, we want to know more. “See how they love one another!” That was what opened the door of so many minds and hearts in the early days of Christianity – that genuine love of another flowing from the heart of one filled with love of the LORD.

How can we love the LORD we can’t see if we can’t love the sister and brother we can see? (1 John 4:20) We can’t. It’s that simple.

As we resume our journeys of faith, hope and love this day, let us bring the Good News with us to those we meet. Let us commit to living it out loud. And if necessary, let us use words.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.