Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.
This saying – attributed to the spirit imparted by St. Francis of Assisi – is but one of many ways to express that our actions speak louder than our words.
A daily reminder of this truth is painted on the side of the church building which we pass on the way to the clinic at NPH Honduras. There, a father lion gives advice to his lion cub, telling his little one to be careful about where he steps. “Watch your own steps, then,” chides the youngster, “because they are the ones that I am following”.
Aren’t we always challenged to practice what we preach?
Here, we have repeatedly witnessed the active embrace of human dignity expressed in so many ways by ordinary people with extraordinary love and respect for one another. Their example impacts us much more dramatically than does the painted reminder.
Ramon* – who is himself disabled – took special care with his newly-arrived, wheelchair-bound brother, who needed some extra attention at the water park.
Recently, Tia Nena* came to our clinic, suffering from a distressing infection. After receiving medication, rehydration fluid and advice that she rest, she headed back to Hogar San Francisco. That night, however, at the dinner/rosary/movie night, who but Tia Nena was working hard to make sure that her children were clean, fed and put to bed?
Jesus was explicit and plain in telling Peter how to follow Him (Jn 21):
Feed my lambs.
Tend my sheep.
Feed my sheep.
The Feeding and the Tending are more important than the Philosophy and the Terminology. How often do we – while distracted by our attempts to find the right words – walk past the lambs and the sheep on our very own trail?
Too often.
May we all quietly put our feet on the path illuminated by our Lord, walk the walk, and put our trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us along.
*Names changed.
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