Day Thirty

Day Thirty // March 23 // Preaching

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” – St. Francis of Assisi –

You and I are called to be the voice of Christ speaking to our world. Preaching is not merely the domain of the ordained or those who occupy a pulpit. Every day, in the places we go and amongst the people we meet, we can be the voice of Christ proclaiming good news and hope to the world. A great example of this was St. Francis of Assisi, who lived some eight hundred years ago. In Francis’ call from God, he heard a distinct summons to put the teachings of Jesus into practice. Francis wrote: “As for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the

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Holy Rule rather by example than by word.” Francis had a deep commitment to both the proclamation and embodiment of the Gospel.

He lived with the tension of the words we speak and the way that we put those words into action. He walked away from family wealth to take a vow of poverty. It is said that he would go to the extravagant parties of the wealthy and preach the Gospel. When walking the streets of Assisi, he would preach to those he met. He was even said to preach the Good News to birds!

Our lives should preach what we believe about Jesus. This idea was on Paul’s mind when he wrote, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family” (Romans 8:29).

But a question arises: Do we have a clear understanding of what we believe and how we want our life to speak? We need to sharpen our intent if we want to improve our effectiveness. Years ago, George Gallup wrote, “Never before in the history of the United States has the Gospel of Jesus Christ made such inroads while at the same time making so little difference in how people actually live.”

The challenge of Lent is to learn from St. Francis and the Spirit who called him to serve. We should not sit on the sidelines and bemoan the state of the world. We

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begin our ministry right in front of us, with the people that we meet. Maybe our biggest audience will be the birds in our backyard. So be it. We need to let our lives speak. And in our own feeble ways, may the voice of Christ speak through us.

We sang it years ago in youth group:

“I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; Though none go with me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.”