If you want to feel the aroma of Christianity, you must copy the rose. The rose irresistibly draws people to itself, and the scent remains with them. Even so, the aroma of Christianity is imparted in an even quicker and more imperceptible manner, if possible. (Mahatma Gandhi)
The rose is in fact beautiful. It gives off a lovely fragrance. It doesn't have to prove itself or convert you to its side. It knows it is a rose. It acts as a rose.
If we Christians could accept the value of who we are (members of God’s family through our Baptism), what we possess in our following of Jesus Christ, the love God has for us, then the world would say, "I hear you. Stop shouting." All without our saying a word.
How? By the way we live. How we act towards one another, especially the least appealing; how we stand up for values of all sorts; how we challenge the world’s standards and values; how we worship. Basically, how we talk and act.
Marist Young Adult Ministry, New Zealand
- hat tip to Discombobula for the Gandhi quote which led me to this!
St. Francis is reported as having said, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words... It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching."
It is by our love for our neighbours, and all our sisters and brothers, that we draw close to Christ; and in drawing close, we draw those around us closer too.
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