Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
“The one who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience, and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others. Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.”
Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) in Sermon 1 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 510.
The apostle Paul beckons the Colossians and us to clothe ourselves with humility and other virtues. Garments provide a vivid picture of the necessity of these virtues. We must not leave home without them.
Anthony provides us with another word picture that is similarly graphic. When we exhibit humility, patience, or generosity, it speaks to people. It sends a message that speaks louder than words. What message about generosity do your actions speak?
There’s a saying around the world: If a person speaks three languages, they are European. If they speak two languages, they are from the majority world (and speak English as a second language). And if a person speaks only one language, they are American.
Perhaps many of us who are reading this need to go to language school. I pray everyone reading this speaks the language of generosity with rich and ever growing fluency.