Watching me. Watching you.

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." Francis of Assisi

What did St Francis mean by this?

Here’s my take on it.

If you’re a parent there’s someone watching you. Your children. Watching and learning from you.

If you’re a teacher there’s someone watching you. Your class and your school. Listening to you.

If you’re a priest, vicar or pastor, your congregation is watching you.

If you’re a politician your country is watching you.

Whoever you are, a sportsman, TV or movie star, a famous personality, or a nobody like myself. There’s always someone watching you and ready to follow your example – be it good or be it bad.

We are all role models for someone else, whether we know it or not.

So let our life and our demeanour be such that Jesus would be proud of. And that’s one way to preach the Gospel – without words.