It is St. Francis who is to have said, "Go out today and preach the Gospel...and if you must, use words." I don't know if he said such a thing but I have a hard time with such a thought.
The Gospel is all about Jesus Christ - His suffering, death and resurrection for the redemption of the world. The Gospel is good news, the best news anyone can hear. The Gospel is all about words - words regarding the salvation that is God's free gift to those who believe in Jesus - the way and the truth and the life.
The life that St. Francis is speaking of is one that is motivated by the Gospel. The love of Jesus changes us and moves us. We want to be salt and light to the world. We want to love our neighbor as Jesus first loved them and us. We want to let our light shine in a world full of darkness and sin so that more and more people will come to know and trust Jesus to be their Savior from sin and death.
In Acts, chapter 8, Phillip used the words of the 5th Gospel - Isaiah - to help the eunuch see and believe in the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Paul wrote to the Romans that the "Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of the world." The Gospel is all about the Word - Jesus!
By all means, go out today and show the power of God's love at work in your life. Let people see the difference that Jesus makes. But also be ready to speak His Gospel of love and forgiveness to those around you. Preach the Gospel...and use words to do it!
