October 2007

Yes, we ought to speak, to everyone, and always!
Many times the Word of Life invites us to live and to be an expression of love. But we also need to share the words of scripture with others, to proclaim them, communicate them, so that they join together with us in a life of giving, of brotherhood.
These were the final words of Jesus: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel…” (see Mk 16:15; Mt 28:19).
This was the passion that drove Paul to travel through  the whole known world and to address people of different cultures and faiths: “If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!” (1 Cor 9:16).
Drawing upon the words of Jesus and the strength of his own experience in putting them into practice, Paul urges his faithful disciple Timothy and each of us to:

“Proclaim the word…”

In order for our speaking to be effective, it must, whenever possible, be built first on a relationship with the people we are addressing.
Even when it is not possible to speak with the mouth, it is always possible with the heart. At times, a word can be expressed only through a respectful silence, through a smile, or by showing interest in other people’s lives, in their concerns, their problems, by addressing them by name, so that each one feels that he or she is important to us. And they truly are: we can never be indifferent to anyone.
These silent words, if well-chosen, cannot fail to open up a way into a person’s heart. Oftentimes, the person becomes interested in me and asks me questions. This then is the moment to proclaim. We should not hesitate but go ahead and speak clearly, even if we say just a few words; but we ought to speak and tell that person why we live as Christians.

“Proclaim the word…”

How should we live this Word of Life and proclaim the gospel even during brief encounters? How can we share it with everyone?
We can do this by loving each person, without exception.
If we are real Christians, living what the Gospel teaches, our words will not be empty rhetoric.
Our proclamation will be even more clear if we know how to bear witness to the heart of the Gospel—unity among us—knowing that “this is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:33).
This is the uniform that ordinary Christians, men and women, married and single, adults and children, the sick and the healthy, can wear always and wherever they are, in order to give witness with their lives to the One they believe in, to the One they want to love.

By Chiara Lubich