RESTORE
This chapter from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new "Expression" of God’s Love to RESTORE the Truth.
Chapter 39 from the BFG Handbook (Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching) presents the gospel through a new “Expression” of God’s Love to RESTORE people to the Truth.
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Chapter 39: Humility
In the beginning, the Heavens and Earth attained Oneness 1
The sky attained Oneness and became clear
The Earth attained Oneness and became still
The Spirit attained Oneness and became divine
The valley attained Oneness and became abundant
The myriad of things attained Oneness and became alive
The rulers attained Oneness and became sovereign
These all arise from the Oneness of God
Without clarity, the sky will break open with hailstones 2
Without stillness, the Earth will tremble and quake
Without divinity, the Spirit will vanish
Without abundance, the valley will dry up
Without life, the myriad of things will be extinct
Without sovereignty, the rulers will fall
Humility is the root of honor 3
The high is built upon the foundation of the low
Thus, true rulers call themselves alone and unworthy
Don’t they depend on being humble and low? Absolutely!
Therefore, seeking praise does not win true praise
Do not adorn yourself with sparkling jade 4
But be common and dull as the rocks
Clear Skies and Still Ground
“In the beginning, the Heavens and Earth attained Oneness
The sky attained Oneness and became clear
The Earth attained Oneness and became still”
Chapter 39 of the Christian edition of the Tao Te Ching highlights the centrality of humility and dependence on God’s Oneness as the source of all creation and stability. In the beginning, the heavens and earth attained unity through the Oneness of God, echoing the divine harmony described in Genesis 1:31 and Ecclesiastes 3:9-15. The clarity of the sky, the stillness of the earth, and the abundance of the valleys symbolize how creation reflects God’s sustaining presence. Without this Oneness, chaos ensues—stormy skies, trembling earth, and desolate valleys remind us of the fragility of life apart from God, as seen in Ezekiel 13:1-19 and Mark 13:5-8.
Look closer at the first lines. “In the beginning” takes us straight to Genesis, and the chapter’s footnotes add another beginning: the burning bush, where God tells Moses His name. Everything else on the chapter’s list “attained” its gift from Him. God alone simply is.
“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’””
Exodus 3:14NRSVue
That is why the sky can be clear and the Earth can be still. Their order is borrowed from God, who never changes. The Psalm in the footnotes sets the heavens, which will wear out like a garment, beside the Lord, who stays the same. Creation is beautiful, but it leans on Him.
“Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.”
Psalm 102:25-27NRSVue
The clear sky and the still Earth are also pictures of a soul at peace. When our hearts are joined to God, our thinking clears and our inner ground stops shaking. Stillness is not emptiness. It is resting on the One who holds everything steady.
“God himself created the visible world in all its richness, diversity and order.”Catechism 337
“Ours is not an age which fosters recollection… For this reason, it is necessary nowadays that the People of God be educated in the value of silence.”Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini 66
Think about the last time you looked up at a truly clear sky. Maybe it was on a camping trip, or on a cold night after the clouds moved off. For a moment your mind went quiet too. Most days we do not look up. We look down, at a screen that never stops moving. Chapter 39 says “The sky attained Oneness and became clear” and “The Earth attained Oneness and became still.” The clearness and calm we crave do not come from a better app. They come from the One who made the sky.
Try this today: Step outside once today, look up for a quiet moment, and say, “You made this, Lord, and You made me.”
Every Gift Comes From the One God
“The Spirit attained Oneness and became divine
The valley attained Oneness and became abundant
The myriad of things attained Oneness and became alive
The rulers attained Oneness and became sovereign
These all arise from the Oneness of God”
The list keeps going, and each gift is greater than the last. “The Spirit attained Oneness and became divine.” The Holy Spirit is God from all eternity, so Christians can read this line about our own spirit. When God joins us to Himself in Baptism, we truly share His life. St. Peter says it boldly.
“by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature…”
2 Peter 1:4ESV
Then the valley “became abundant,” and the myriad of things “became alive.” A valley is the low place, where the rain runs down and the crops grow thick. The low ground is where life gathers, a hint of where the chapter is going. Every living thing, from a sparrow to a newborn, lives because God shares His life.
“the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.”
Psalm 65:13ESV
Even “The rulers attained Oneness and became sovereign.” Authority is not something leaders invent; God lends it to them for the good of others. Then the chapter gathers everything into one line: “These all arise from the Oneness of God.” Souls, harvests, life and leadership all flow from one Source. Nothing good is self-made.
“By the grace of Baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, we are called to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity, here on earth in the obscurity of faith, and after death in eternal light.”Catechism 265
“The authority required by the moral order derives from God…”Catechism 1899
Grace does not make us God by nature. It lets us share, as beloved children, in the life of the one God.
Make a quick list of what kept you going this week: your coffee, your paycheck, your kid’s laugh, a friend’s text, your own heartbeat. Almost nothing on that list was made by you. We talk about “self-made” people, but no one gave themselves lungs or a mind or the people who raised them. Chapter 39 says, “These all arise from the Oneness of God.” That is not a put-down. It is freedom. You do not have to hold up your whole life alone, because Someone has been holding it all along.
Try this today: Tonight, name a handful of gifts from your day and end with, “These all came from You.”
When We Lose the Source
“Without clarity, the sky will break open with hailstones
Without stillness, the Earth will tremble and quake
Without divinity, the Spirit will vanish
Without abundance, the valley will dry up
Without life, the myriad of things will be extinct
Without sovereignty, the rulers will fall”
Now the chapter turns its list upside down. “Without clarity, the sky will break open with hailstones.” “Without stillness, the Earth will tremble and quake.” Each gift, cut off from God, turns into its opposite. The footnote sends us to Ezekiel, where false prophets cried “Peace” when there was no peace and covered a weak wall with whitewash.
“Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones…”
Ezekiel 13:10-11ESV
“Without divinity, the Spirit will vanish.” The soul does not stop existing, but cut off from God its inner life fades. “Without abundance, the valley will dry up,” and “Without life, the myriad of things will be extinct.” The Psalm says the same thing: every creature depends on the breath God gives.
“When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”
Psalm 104:29-30NRSVue
Finally, “Without sovereignty, the rulers will fall.” Power that forgets God does not last. Jesus warned that wars and earthquakes would come, and told us not to be fooled or frightened (Mark 13:5-8). The answer is not panic but staying close to the Source, like a branch that stays on the vine (John 15:5).
“Without the Creator, the creature vanishes.”Catechism 49, quoting Gaudium et Spes 36
“The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is now destroyed… Harmony with creation is broken: visible creation has become alien and hostile to man.”Catechism 400
Sin, not God, is what breaks this harmony. God does not walk away from us; we walk away from Him, and He keeps calling us back.
You know the feeling when one thing gives way and everything follows. You skip sleep, so you snap at your spouse, so the morning goes badly, so work feels impossible. Or you drift from prayer for a few weeks, and slowly your patience, your joy and your peace start to dry up, like the chapter’s valley. Nothing dramatic happened. You just got disconnected. Chapter 39 says, “Without abundance, the valley will dry up.” The good news is that reconnecting is always one honest prayer away.
Try this today: Name one area of your life that feels dry right now, and bring it to God in a short prayer before you sleep.
Humility, the Root of Honor
“Humility is the root of honor
The high is built upon the foundation of the low
Thus, true rulers call themselves alone and unworthy
Don’t they depend on being humble and low? Absolutely!”
The chapter then emphasizes humility as the foundation of honor. Just as the high depends on the low for support, true greatness arises from a posture of humility. This aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14:10-11, where those who humble themselves will be exalted. Leaders who recognize their unworthiness before God exemplify this principle, understanding that their authority is rooted not in self-glorification but in service and submission to the divine.
Jesus gave this teaching at a dinner, as He watched guests hurry for the best seats. His advice was simple: take the lowest place, and let the host call you higher. Honor that we grab is fragile. Honor that is given to us is real.
“But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 14:10-11NRSVue
The chapter asks a question and answers it with joy: “Don’t they depend on being humble and low? Absolutely!” Christ is the proof. He emptied Himself, became a servant, and went down even to the Cross. That lowest place became the foundation of the highest honor.
“he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name”
Philippians 2:8-9NRSVue
This is why the Church loves humble words. At every Mass, just before Communion, we say with the centurion that we are not worthy. The Pope is called “servant of the servants of God.” Like the “true rulers” of this chapter, we do not deny our dignity; we simply remember who gives it.
“…the faithful can only echo humbly and with ardent faith the words of the Centurion… (“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”).”Catechism 1386
“…serving Christ in their fellow men they might by humility and patience lead their brethren to that King for whom to serve is to reign.”Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 36
“Entirely dependent on Christ who gives mission and authority, ministers are truly “slaves of Christ,” in the image of him who freely took “the form of a slave” for us.”Catechism 876
Picture two new hires. One talks loudly about everything he has done, corrects people in meetings, and makes sure the boss sees every win. The other learns names, asks good questions, stays late to help, and gives credit away. Months later, who does the team trust? Who gets asked to lead? Chapter 39 says, “The high is built upon the foundation of the low.” It is true at work, at home and in friendships. Respect that lasts is built from the ground up, one humble choice at a time.
Try this today: In your next conversation, let the other person have the spotlight: ask questions, listen well, and give someone else the credit.
Plain as the Rocks
“Therefore, seeking praise does not win true praise
Do not adorn yourself with sparkling jade
But be common and dull as the rocks”
The imagery of avoiding the adornment of “sparkling jade” in favor of being “common and dull as rocks” underscores the value of simplicity and authenticity over outward displays of greatness. This mirrors Jesus’ critique of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:5-7 and 23:27, who sought recognition through their external appearance rather than genuine humility and faithfulness to God.
“Therefore, seeking praise does not win true praise.” The Pharisees in the footnotes loved the best seats and the respectful greetings, and Jesus said that people who perform for an audience already have their reward. Praise we chase works like a mirror: it only shows us ourselves. True praise comes from the Father, who sees in secret.
“Do not adorn yourself with sparkling jade.” Jesus compared show-off religion to whitewashed tombs, bright outside and dead inside. Notice the link with Ezekiel’s whitewashed wall earlier in the chapter. Whitewash and jade both cover things up, and neither can hold any weight.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”
Matthew 23:27ESV
“But be common and dull as the rocks.” A rock is not flashy, but you can build on it. Jesus is the stone the builders rejected, and He calls us “living stones.” To be plain as a rock means being real, steady and dependable, so that God, not our shine, is what people notice.
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…”
1 Peter 2:4-5ESV
“An evil end corrupts the action, even if the object is good in itself (such as praying and fasting “in order to be seen by men”).”Catechism 1755
“Nothing stained by falsehood has any real worth in the Lord’s eyes… The Father, “who sees in secret” (Mt 6:6), recognizes what is impure and insincere, mere display or appearance…”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 84
Before you post a photo, how many times do you retake it? You pick the best angle, add a filter, rewrite the caption, then keep checking who liked it. We do the same thing in person: the right clothes, the right car, the right answer that makes us look good. It is exhausting to keep the jade polished. Chapter 39 offers rest: “Be common and dull as the rocks.” You can stop performing. God already sees the real you, and He loves what He sees.
Try this today: Post, say or wear something today without checking whether it will impress anyone, and notice the freedom.
Living the Chapter
The whole chapter, put into practice
In essence, this chapter calls believers to align with the Oneness of God, acknowledging Him as the source of all life and stability. By cultivating humility and resisting the temptation to seek worldly praise or adornment, we reflect the true nature of God’s kingdom—where greatness is found in lowliness, and life flourishes through dependence on His sustaining power. This humility ensures that we remain connected to the divine Oneness, allowing God’s presence to bring clarity, stillness, and abundance to our lives.
So how do we live Chapter 39? We begin each day remembering that “These all arise from the Oneness of God,” and that includes us. We make room for stillness, so our inner ground stops shaking. We take the lower seat, serve without needing applause, and let God decide when and how to honor us.
Mary lived this perfectly. She called herself the servant of the Lord, and God lifted her so high that every generation calls her blessed. Her song sums up the whole chapter: the proud are scattered, rulers fall from their thrones, and the humble are lifted up.
“he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate”
Luke 1:52ESV
“She stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him.”Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 55
“…giving her assent: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word.”… It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed.”Catechism 148
Think of the people you admire most who are not famous: a grandmother who prayed for everyone, a coach who showed up every week, a neighbor who always shoveled the older couple’s walk. None of them had a following. All of them had honor. That is Chapter 39 lived out. This week you will have chances to grab the spotlight or to quietly hold something up. Choose the low, steady place. People may not notice right away, but God does, and the people you serve will remember.
Try this today: Pick one hidden way to serve your family or coworkers this week, and do it every day without mentioning it.
RENEWAL
The Trinitarian M.A.P. is the method for RENEWAL, where God’s Love shapes our MINDSET, Trust in the Son directs our AIM, and Faith in the Holy Spirit guides our PRACTICE.
This chapter offers a new “Method” for the New Evangelization to RENEW our hearts and minds through the Trinitarian M.A.P. Bring this chapter into your day with the BFG Companion App. Pick Chapter 39 and an area of your life, and get Guidance made for you.
Renewal starts with how we see the world. Chapter 39 opens with a long list: the sky “became clear,” the Earth “became still,” the valley “became abundant,” and every living thing “became alive.” Then comes the key: “These all arise from the Oneness of God.” Nothing on that list made itself. The same is true of us. Our talents, our breath and our good days all come from one Source. St. Paul says it simply: “For from him and through him and for him are all things” (Romans 11:36). A renewed mind starts each day there.
From that truth, humility grows on its own. Chapter 39 says, “Humility is the root of honor.” Humility is not thinking badly of yourself. It is seeing yourself truthfully: a beloved creature who has received everything. Pride forgets the Source and acts as if it built itself. St. Paul asks a question worth keeping close: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). When we answer it honestly, we stop competing for first place and start thanking the One who gave it all.
Try this: When you get a compliment today, say “thank you,” then quietly add in your heart, “It came from You, Lord.”
Romans 11:36NRSVue “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”
1 Corinthians 4:7NRSVue “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive?”
More Scripture: Genesis 1:31 · Proverbs 18:12
A renewed mind needs a target, and Chapter 39 is blunt about the wrong one: “Seeking praise does not win true praise.” Applause is a moving target. It fades by tomorrow, and it always asks for more. Jesus asked the crowds a piercing question: “How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?” (John 5:44, NRSVue). So we change our aim. We still work hard and do our best, but we do it for the One whose “Well done” never fades.
The chapter shows what that aim looks like in people with power: “True rulers call themselves alone and unworthy.” Jesus told His friends that after doing everything asked of them, they should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty” (Luke 17:10). That is not putting ourselves down. It is aiming at service instead of status. A parent, a manager, a team captain or a parish volunteer who aims to serve first is building the way the chapter describes: “The high is built upon the foundation of the low.”
Try this: Before you post, share or mention something you did today, ask, “Whose praise am I hoping for?” and offer it to God first.
John 5:44NRSVue “How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?”
Luke 17:10NRSVue “So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
More Scripture: Galatians 1:10 · Mark 10:43-44
Renewal shows up in daily habits. Chapter 39 says, “The Earth attained Oneness and became still,” and warns, “Without stillness, the Earth will tremble and quake.” Many of us live with a constant inner earthquake: notifications, deadlines and worries that never stop shaking. The Psalm gives the cure: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Jesus Himself slipped away to quiet places to pray. So we practice small stillness: a few quiet breaths before we open the phone, a short prayer in the car, a silent moment before meals.
Then the chapter ends with a surprising practice: “Do not adorn yourself with sparkling jade, but be common and dull as the rocks.” This is not about looking shabby. It is about dropping the act. We stop polishing an image and start being real, with God and with others. Jesus warned about people who do everything “for people to see” (Matthew 23:5). A rock does not try to sparkle; it just holds steady. Practice being that kind of person: honest, steady and quietly faithful, whether anyone notices or not.
Try this: Do one good thing today that no one will ever see, and leave it with God.
Psalm 46:10NRSVue ““Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.””
Matthew 23:5NRSVue “They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.”
More Scripture: Mark 1:35 · Matthew 6:1
In short: think humbly, aim at what is eternal, live by the Spirit. See everything as a gift from the one God, aim for His praise instead of the crowd’s, and practice the stillness and plain honesty of a rock, because humility is the root of honor.
RESPOND
Renewal brings the transformation of our spirit with ardor, empowering us to RESPOND to the call of holiness and make disciples of all nations. This encourages meaningful dialogue to embrace shared truths that transcend cultural and religious boundaries.
Renewal does not stay at home. When God roots a heart in humility, He sends it out. Chapter 39 says, “The high is built upon the foundation of the low,” and that is how the Gospel has always spread: through ordinary people who served first and spoke second. You do not need to sparkle to share Christ. Be the rock, not the jade: steady, real and pointing beyond yourself to the God from whom “these all arise.”
In 1983, Saint John Paul II called the Church to an evangelization that is “new in its ardor, new in its methods, new in its expression.” The Gospel never changes. The way we carry it must be alive for our time. Chapter 39 shows why: in a world that runs on likes and personal brands, people are hungry for witnesses who are not selling themselves.
Ardor is the fire of a heart that has been loved by God. People feel it before they hear a single word. Chapter 39 says, “Without divinity, the Spirit will vanish.” The fire in us is not our own energy; it stays lit only as long as we stay close to God.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 39 warns against “sparkling jade,” so share your faith in plain words and real stories, not polished speeches.
Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 39 says “seeking praise does not win true praise.” Our tools are not about looking impressive; they quietly point people to God and then step aside.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 39 warns against “sparkling jade,” so share your faith in plain words and real stories, not polished speeches.
What my life was like before I really met Jesus.
How He met me, and the moment things began to change.
What is different now, and the hope I carry. Like the chapter’s “Humility is the root of honor,” when did being humbled open a door that pride had kept shut?
Meet people where they are: on the phone in their hand. The BFG Handbook and the BFG Companion turn one conversation into a path to Christ and His Church. Chapter 39 says “seeking praise does not win true praise.” Our tools are not about looking impressive; they quietly point people to God and then step aside.
Every chapter has its own song and is written in a language people of every faith can understand. A doorway for dialogue. Chapter 39, Humility, helps anyone worn out from chasing approval, comparing their image to others, or feeling shaken and unsteady inside.
A friend shares a struggle. Together, pick a chapter and an area of life (start with Chapter 39 when someone is chasing approval, feels pressure to look perfect, or feels their life is shaking apart). In seconds: a reflection, the M.A.P., a saint, a prayer, Scripture, a song and a church nearby. Send it by email, PDF or a share link.
Hard question? Ask it together. Answers are grounded in Catholic teaching, the saints and the BFG Handbook. Talk or type. Try asking together: “Why does the Bible say humility comes before honor?”
Pray the Rosary with a guided voice, the daily mysteries and beads that follow along. Pray it with someone, even over the phone. In the Rosary we walk with Mary, who called herself the Lord’s servant, and with Jesus, who humbled Himself, the living proof that “humility is the root of honor.”
Catholic churches near anyone, with Mass and Confession times, directions, and one tap to add a time to the calendar. Every conversation can end at a church door. There we pray, “Lord, I am not worthy,” the very spirit of Chapter 39, and He comes to us anyway.
Morning, midday and evening prayer reminders, a daily streak and a steady prayer rhythm help a new believer keep going. A daily pause to be still, because “without stillness, the Earth will tremble and quake.”
Free to start, no card needed. Read aloud in 48 languages.
One tool that walks with a person from the first question to the church door.
Jesus sent His apostles first to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, then to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Start where you are. Chapter 39 says “the high is built upon the foundation of the low,” so the quiet, unseen people around you are where God’s work begins.
- Pray the Rosary together on Pray My Rosary.
- Bless your children at bedtime.
- Share a Guidance with a spouse or child who is struggling.
- Find Sunday Mass times together with Church Finder.
- Read Chapter 39 at dinner and ask: “Who did something kind today that nobody thanked?”
- Text a verse from your Guidance.
- Ask, “How can I pray for you?” and pray right then.
- Invite a friend to Mass, then go for coffee.
- Send the line: “Humility is the root of honor.”
- Be the calm, kind one.
- Pray on your lunch break with a reminder.
- Start a small chapter group that meets once a week. Begin with Chapter 39, Humility.
- Respect the rules: invite, never push.
- Listen for the moment: “Things have been hard.”
- Offer: “Can I send you something that helped me?”
- Share the Chapter 39 song.
- Ask good questions and really listen.
- Share your three-part story.
- Open Ask BFG together when a question comes up.
- When a friend is crushed by what others think, share “Seeking praise does not win true praise,” and remind them that God already sees them.
- Visit the sick, the elderly and the lonely; pray the Rosary with them.
- Serve at a food bank.
- Welcome newcomers at Mass.
- Join your parish evangelization team.
- Ask shops, cafés and offices to display a BFG card with a QR code.
- Offer a short lunch talk on faith at work.
- Business owners: offer the Companion to staff as a free gift, never a requirement.
- Go where people already gather, and be the friendly one who listens.
- Pray quietly for the people around you.
- When a talk turns real, share a Guidance or the chapter song.
- Wear or carry a simple sign of your faith, like a cross or a rosary, that can start a conversation.
- At the gym, where everyone checks the mirror, notice the person who quietly helps others; share that Chapter 39 says “be common and dull as the rocks,” and that is real strength.
- Host a Chapter 39 “Humility” night, a Handbook chapter night, a Rosary night or an “Ask Anything” faith night.
- Show the Companion on a big screen and let people try it.
- We did this at our free conference, The New Evangelization in the Age of AI, at Christ Cathedral.
- Share a Guidance, a chapter song or a Scripture card. Try: “Seeking praise does not win true praise.”
- One post can reach someone you will never meet.
- Join a parish or diocese mission trip.
- The Companion speaks 48 languages, so you leave behind something that keeps speaking after you go home.
- Chapter 39’s picture of rulers who call themselves unworthy speaks in every culture, a natural bridge to Jesus, the King who washed feet.
- Your parish ministries, the Legion of Mary, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, prison, hospital and campus ministries, and mission groups.
- Bring the BFG tools to their work.
You may never be known for your faith. Much of what you do may go unnoticed. But Chapter 39 says “Humility is the root of honor,” and “The high is built upon the foundation of the low.” Go without polish. Go steady as a rock. Go together. The same Spirit who renewed you now sends you, to serve quietly and to let God give the honor in His time.
God from whom all things arise, Holy Spirit, set my heart on fire. Jesus, send me to the one You love. Father, make me Your witness today. Amen.
NRSVue © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.