Recently, Pope Francis offered this plea: “May we come to realize that the word is the message of Jesus that God wants us to speak to the world by our lives.” In trying to understand what this means for an everyday follower of Jesus; I offer the following thoughts.

 Every disciple of Jesus hears at some moment on his or her journey, an inspiration. This epiphany usually flows from Jesus’ words of mercy, forgiveness, love, or compassion preached while walking along the winding roads or dusty pathways he travelled during his life.

 It may also come from Jesus’ frequent calls to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or visit the sick. No matter where we live, our calling is to hear again Jesus’ words and to pay close attention to their message and to live them as best we can.

 Jesus is always encouraging us to speak his words to the world in which we live. However, when Jesus says speak these words, he really wants us to make them real in our present moments. He humbly asks that we do our best in each moment of our lives wherever our journey places us.

 Why? Jesus desires that his message play out in every relationship we’re involved in; in every encounter, large or small, and each occasion where we can use our gifts.

 This is true for every person who desires to assist the Lord in growing his vineyard or has chosen to become a co-creator with God in building his kingdom. Once Jesus’ followers commit to listening to Jesus’ spoken word, it continually flows freely through their every action. It can never be confined or restrained. As a result, a person’s growth is constantly becoming enhanced and refined.

 When Jesus meets his apostles after his resurrection, he says: “Do not be afraid.” Through these words, he offers them forgiveness. After his resurrection, Jesus couldn’t stop himself from forgiving them for running away, or from their cowardly hiding.

 Jesus loved them too much to allow their weaknesses to end their relationship. And as a result, instead of fear, his apostles felt joy, unable to believe the depth of Jesus’ affection given the hurt their betrayal caused. Jesus is determined to avoid the darkness of revenge and fear. Jesus instead offers peace, mercy, and justice to be the pillars on which his church rested.

 Jesus’ contemporary followers need to remember that they are baptized in Jesus’ name, washed, and converted, and filled with the Spirit of God. This he made clear from the text he read the first time he preached in his Nazareth, his native city:

 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ….

 What these words spoken by Jesus should accomplish the same in us. Namely, to bring the good news to the poor, liberate captives, give the blind sight, uplift the exploited, and to proclaim God’s gift of grace.

 This is why Peter’s response to Jesus’ question: “Peter, will you leave me too?” is so important! Peter answers: “Master to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.” And Jesus still does.

 May we come to realize that the word is the message of Jesus! That God wants us to speak to the world by our lives. -Pope Francis