TEACHING PREACHING
Legend tells us that a zealous young man once went to St. Francis of Assisi and implored the saint to teach him how to preach. “Gladly, come with me.” All afternoon, the young man followed Francis about, waiting eagerly for his lesson. They paused beneath a tree and Francis stooped to return a young bird to its nest. They went on and stopped in a field crowded with reapers and Francis bent his back to help load the hay onto a cart. From there they went to the town square where Francis lifted a bucket of water from the well for an old woman and carried it home for her. Each time they stopped, the young man was certain that a sermon would be forthcoming. But no words of great truth or wise discourse issued from the saint’s mouth. Finally they went into the church, but Francis only knelt silently to pray. At last they returned to the place from whence they…
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