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A maxim attributed to St. Francis of Assisi - "Preach the Gospel always; use words if necessary" - remains relevant. Is it another way of saying that actions speak louder than words?

Nowhere are the consequences of ignoring such wisdom more disastrous than when we Christians who preach God's love for all deny it to the least among us. Not just in passing did Christ Himself make this the true measure of our love for Him - and the ultimate test upon which our eternal salvation hangs.

The Gospel, by its very nature, is an attractive force. It draws us into a relationship with a God who suffered and died for us. There is something completely surprising and disarming about anyone who demonstrates unconditional, gratuitous love. But, outside of Christianity, it is unheard of that an all-sovereign God would stoop to such a level as Jesus Christ did.

Most Christians get at least this much of the Gospel: We are sinners and Christ came to save us from our sins by dying the death we deserved to that we can have the reward that He deserved.

The cultivation of a "personal relationship" with Jesus Christ is much preached and has the power to change lives. It is the starting point: to let Jesus be the center of my life. But it is pointless unless hearts and, indeed, communities are transformed - unless the relationship leads to conversion.

It is one thing to believe and to experience the touch of God's grace. It is another thing to live it and be changed by it. Why aren't more of our brothers and sisters attracted to us when we proclaim this faith in an all-loving, all-forgiving God? Why are our churches, on average, only one-third full on any given Sunday in ordinary time? Is it that we are not living the rest of the Gospel?

That "rest" is precisely the transformation that flows from the heart into the community in which we live. A community of believers which understands that each member is a sinner who has been offered forgiveness should, one might expect, convey an especially warm welcome to those most in need of God's healing love: the poor, the sick, the alienated, the marginalized, the most abject members of society.

Such a community - if it be the true Church of Christ - would not consist of those who seek to hold onto, let alone boast, of their rank or privilege or accomplishments. Instead, the members of this community would constantly confess their sinfulness and unworthiness and their gratitude for forgiveness - for this is the truth that unites us in Christ.

In these challenging times of transition and instability, it is comforting to cling to practices, methods, examples and traditions to which we may expect others to ascribe. "Let them come to us! We have the truth!" Sooner or later, however, we may find fewer and fewer satisfied with mere liturgical correctness - or even the best choirs or most beautiful churches.

Even with a balanced church budget, money in our reserves, air conditioning and a solid roof, nothing would invite a sinner to join us. And that is the point: Do sinners feel welcome among us?

That is what scandalized the religious establishment at the time of Christ: "This man welcomes sinners." It is also what gave sinners hope! In these days when much anger and frustration is voiced against the failure or inadequacy of our public institutions, we cannot expect as a Church to be exempt from similar scrutiny - especially if we are failing to sell our "product."

And what is that "product" if not the Good News of a Savior whose greatest "sin" in the eyes of His most critical contemporaries is that He forgave sinners?

Whoever sticks around long enough will have little trouble in finding how many ways in which sin can insinuate itself into human behaviors and relationships. Whether in the more obvious forms like the violence of abortion, the tragedy of broken marriages or the abuse of children, or the subtle, no less dehumanizing varieties of racism, sexism, careerism or the myriads of addictions, sin infects us all.

Christ comes to rescue us from every one of these sinful cesspools. Knowing and preaching this, however, is one thing. Unless we acknowledge and confess our sins so that the redeeming power of grace in us is visible, other sinners like us may doubt whether the Gospel can really work for them, too. A Church full of self-made saints is an empty Church!

A Church professing a Gospel of forgiveness must always be ready to seek forgiveness. A Christian who believes in the real, personal presence of Christ needs to stand ready to witness how Christ has rescued him or her from sin - if in no other way than by forgiving other sinners.

Perhaps sinners will come back to church when it is the place where all repentant sinners can find a home - where the rest of the Gospel can be heard from and beyond the pulpit and the pew, more loudly and clearly than words alone can ever preach.[[In-content Ad]]

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