"....I also admonish and exhort those who preach to use well-chosen and chaste words that are practical and edifying. And let them point out to the faithful what is evil and what is virtuous, what merits punishment and what leads to eternal glory. And let your discourse be brief, because the Lord's words were few when he was on earth." --St. Francis, Rule of 1223, Chapter IXThis makes a case for being daily in the word of God rather than saving it for one day a week in church. The preacher has to pack seven days of living for God into one hour. This reminds me of the high school language class I took. I spent the first year learning the basics of German five days a week throughout the school year. The second year, however, when we were to learn to speak it, I took a summer school course in eight weeks. I'm a confirmed believer that languages are learned and retained better over a long period rather than condensed into a few short weeks. Learning to walk in the Spirit is much the same way. It's in the daily walking in the Spirit that we learn to be in the Spirit. It's a way of life and since life is daily, it must be learned daily--in small increments. Jesus spoke directly to the needs of his hearers as He moved through the countryside and villages. His actions often spoke louder than His words. As messengers of God word let us live our daily lives as witnesses to His Love. Then our words need only be few.
