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 81 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 81: True Servants of God
Truthful words may not be beautiful 1
Beautiful words may not be truthful
The righteous do not have the need to argue 2
Those who have the need to argue are the unrighteous
Those who think they know much are not wise 3
Those who think they are wise do not know much
The wise Master does not store up treasures on earth 4
The more he serves, the more blessings he receives
The more he gives, the more abundant he becomes
The Way of Heaven benefits all and does not harm 5
The way of the wise is to fulfill their duty without contending
True Words Over Pretty Words
“Truthful words may not be beautiful
Beautiful words may not be truthful”
Chapter 81 of the Tao Te Ching emphasizes the nature of true wisdom and service, contrasting superficial knowledge and beauty with deeper, authentic virtues. From a Christian perspective, this chapter aligns closely with Jesus’ teachings about humility, selflessness, and the nature of true discipleship. The statement that “truthful words may not be beautiful” and “beautiful words may not be truthful” points to the idea that outward appearances and eloquence can often mask the true condition of the heart. This aligns with Jesus’ condemnation of outward piety without inner righteousness, as seen in Matthew 23:27-28, where He speaks of the Pharisees as “whitewashed tombs”—appearing beautiful on the outside but full of corruption within.
The verses behind these lines come from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Paul had told them a hard truth, and some of them turned cold toward him. Meanwhile, other teachers were winning them over with warm words and easy promises. Paul felt the sting and asked them plainly:
“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you but for no good purpose…”
Galatians 4:16-17NRSVue
Flattery is not love. A doctor who hides a diagnosis to keep us cheerful is not helping, and a voice that only praises us cannot help us grow. Yet the chapter does not say the truth must be harsh. It says truthful words “may not” be beautiful. In Jesus, truth and love meet perfectly.
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14NRSVue
So Christians are called to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15): honest enough to say what is real, gentle enough that the other person can receive it. And we humbly let others do the same for us.
“Man tends by nature toward the truth. He is obliged to honor and bear witness to it…”Catechism 2467
“The strategy of this skilled ‘Father of Lies’ … is precisely mimicry, that sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments.”Pope Francis, Message for World Communications Day 2018
Your friend shows you the business plan she has poured her savings into, and you can see a serious problem. Saying “Looks great!” would be easy and would feel kind. An ad promises you will finally be happy after this one purchase. A video tells you exactly what you hoped was true. Chapter 81 cuts through all of it: “Beautiful words may not be truthful.” The loving thing is often the harder one, a gentle, honest word spoken because you really care how things turn out.
Try this today: Before you share or repeat something today, ask yourself: “Is this true, or is it just nice to hear?”
No Need to Win the Argument
“The righteous do not have the need to argue
Those who have the need to argue are the unrighteous”
The chapter continues by contrasting the righteous and unrighteous in their approach to argument. The righteous do not argue because their actions speak for themselves, while the unrighteous are consumed with the need to justify themselves. In Matthew 27:11-14, Jesus’ silent response to the accusations against Him exemplifies this wisdom. When accused before Pilate, He does not argue, because He knows that His purpose is not to win an argument but to fulfill God’s will. The wise Christian, therefore, follows Christ’s example, knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, understanding that true righteousness is not proven by words but by actions.
The chapter’s footnote also points to a promise Jesus gave His disciples. One day they would stand before rulers and courts, and He told them not to panic about winning the case. They would not be alone, and they would not have to rely on clever speeches.
“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Luke 12:11-12ESV
This does not mean Christians never speak up. Jesus spoke clearly when the truth needed a voice, and He told Pilate He came “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). What He never did was argue to protect His pride or to crush someone else. The need to win at any cost comes from a restless heart, not from God.
St. Paul gave the same advice to young Timothy, and it fits our comment sections and family chats well:
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil”
2 Timothy 2:23-24ESV
“…Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes…”Catechism 608
“An impeccable argument can indeed rest on undeniable facts, but if it is used to hurt another and to discredit that person in the eyes of others, however correct it may appear, it is not truthful.”Pope Francis, Message for World Communications Day 2018
“Dialogue is often confused with something quite different: the feverish exchange of opinions on social networks, frequently based on media information that is not always reliable. These exchanges are merely parallel monologues.”Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti 200
It is late, and you are three replies deep in an online argument with someone you have never met. Your heart is racing, and you are already typing the next comeback. Or it is a family dinner, the same old topic comes up, and everyone digs in. Chapter 81 offers a quiet way out: “The righteous do not have the need to argue.” You can say what is true once, kindly, and then let it rest. You do not have to win to be at peace. Peace is God’s gift, not a prize for the last word.
Try this today: Before you reply in a heated conversation today, wait a moment and pray, “Holy Spirit, teach me what to say, or help me stay silent.”
The Wisdom of a Teachable Heart
“Those who think they know much are not wise
Those who think they are wise do not know much”
The chapter also warns against prideful self-knowledge, saying, “Those who think they know much are not wise.” This mirrors 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, where Paul cautions against arrogance and encourages believers to become “fools” for Christ, acknowledging that true wisdom is found in God alone. This teaching underscores the Christian idea that humility is essential for spiritual growth. Proverbs 15:6 also speaks to the idea that wealth and treasure are not true measures of success or wisdom, reinforcing the Christian value of storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
These two lines describe a trap that catches clever people most easily. The moment we decide we already know enough, we stop listening, both to others and to God. St. Paul saw this in a church that was proud of its knowledge:
“…Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge”
1 Corinthians 8:1-2NRSVue
Real wisdom does not grow by piling up facts. It begins with “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 9:10), with knowing that God is God and we are not. The wise stay teachable. They admit their mistakes, ask questions and learn from people who are very different from them.
Best of all, the humble do not have to pretend. They can simply ask, and God loves to answer that kind of prayer:
“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”
James 1:5NRSVue
“…faith liberates reason from presumption, the typical temptation of the philosopher… The philosopher who learns humility will also find courage to tackle questions which are difficult to resolve…”Saint John Paul II, Fides et Ratio 76
“Nor can we claim to say where God is not, because God is mysteriously present in the life of every person, in a way that he himself chooses, and we cannot exclude this by our presumed certainties.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 42
There is always someone in the group chat with an instant answer for everything: health, money, parenting, even the faith. Sometimes that someone is us. We read one article or watched one video, and now we are experts. Chapter 81 gently pokes a hole in that: “Those who think they know much are not wise.” The wisest people you know are probably the ones who still say “I am not sure,” “Tell me more” and “I was wrong.” That humility is not weakness. It is the open door wisdom walks through.
Try this today: Today, ask someone a real question about something they know better than you, and listen to the whole answer.
The More We Give
“The wise Master does not store up treasures on earth
The more he serves, the more blessings he receives
The more he gives, the more abundant he becomes”
The “wise Master” in this chapter is described as one who serves others without seeking personal gain, embodying the Christian virtue of selfless service. Jesus, as the ultimate servant, modeled this perfectly in His life, teaching that “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43-45). The more the Master serves, the more blessings he receives. This is reflected in Jesus’ promise that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), showing that true abundance comes not from hoarding, but from giving freely and serving others.
The chapter’s footnote also sends us to Luke 12, where Jesus speaks to friends who were anxious about food, clothes and the future. He does not tell them their needs are unimportant. He reminds them they have a Father who knows those needs, and then He invites them into a freedom the world finds strange:
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven…”
Luke 12:32-33NRSVue
This is why “the wise Master does not store up treasures on earth.” He is not careless with what he has. He simply knows his security rests in the Father’s hands, not in savings or stuff. A heart that is not afraid of running out is free to share.
The book of Proverbs had already noticed the strange arithmetic of giving that the chapter puts so simply: “The more he gives, the more abundant he becomes.” The abundance is not always money. It is joy, friendship, peace and a heart that keeps growing.
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched…”
Proverbs 11:24-25ESV
“All Christ’s riches ‘are for every individual and are everybody’s property.’ Christ did not live his life for himself but for us…”Catechism 519
“…the contrast between the empty words so frequently on our lips and the concrete deeds against which we are called to measure ourselves. Love has no alibi.”Pope Francis, Message for the First World Day of the Poor
Your closet is full, your phone storage is full, and somehow you still feel you do not have enough. The ads promise one more thing will fix it. Then a neighbor needs a ride to the hospital, a coworker is short on rent, or your child wants you to watch one more game. Chapter 81 says, “The more he serves, the more blessings he receives.” The hours you give away often turn out to be the richest of the week. You do not lose yourself by giving. You find out who you really are.
Try this today: Choose one thing you own but do not need, and give it this week to someone who will use it.
Serving Without Contending
“The Way of Heaven benefits all and does not harm
The way of the wise is to fulfill their duty without contending”
Finally, the chapter highlights that “the Way of Heaven benefits all and does not harm.” This perfectly encapsulates the Christian understanding of God’s nature, as seen in Romans 8:28-31, where Paul assures believers that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” God’s ways are always for the benefit of His people, and the wise imitate this by fulfilling their duties without contention. In a world often driven by competition and selfish ambition, the Christian is called to serve without seeking recognition, trusting that God will honor their humility and faithfulness. This chapter teaches that true greatness in God’s Kingdom comes not from striving for power or wealth, but from serving others in love and humility, following the example of Christ.
The chapter’s last footnote leads to one of the gentlest invitations in the Gospel. The Way of Heaven does not crush people or pile burdens on them. Jesus offers rest:
““Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30NRSVue
God’s goodness reaches everyone. He “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:45). Those who follow Him learn to do the same, because “love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). The wise do not need to fight for first place or keep score. They do their part faithfully, and they are glad when others do well.
Jesus told a short parable about servants coming in after a long day of work. They did not demand applause; they simply did what was theirs to do:
“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!’”
Luke 17:10NRSVue
“By enduring the toil of work in union with Christ crucified for us, man in a way collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity. He shows himself a true disciple of Christ by carrying the cross in his turn every day in the activity that he is called upon to perform.”Saint John Paul II, Laborem Exercens 27
“Participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility: by the care taken for the education of his family, by conscientious work, and so forth, man participates in the good of others and of society.”Catechism 1914
At work, someone else presents the idea you came up with. At home, you are the one who always notices the trash is full. In a group project, one person does nothing and still gets the same grade. It is easy to keep a running tally and fight for credit. Chapter 81 shows another way: “fulfill their duty without contending.” Do your part well, speak up kindly when something is truly unfair, and leave the scorekeeping to God. He sees every hidden, faithful act, and He works through it for good.
Try this today: Do one chore or task today that is not “your turn,” and do not mention it to anyone.
Living the Chapter
The whole chapter, put into practice
Chapter 81 paints a portrait of a true servant of God, and every line fits Jesus. He is the Truth, and His words were not always easy to hear. He stood silent before His accusers. He is the Wisdom of God, yet He came humbly, as one who serves. He had nowhere to lay His head, yet He gives to all. And He did His Father’s will to the very end.
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:14-15NRSVue
Living this chapter means letting Jesus make us servants like Him: honest in our words, peaceful in our disagreements, humble in what we know, generous with what we have and faithful in our daily duties. None of this earns God’s love. It is how His love, once received, flows out through us to everyone around us.
“It is true that the primacy belongs to our relationship with God, but we cannot forget that the ultimate criterion on which our lives will be judged is what we have done for others.”Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate 104
“For all their works, prayers and apostolic endeavors, their ordinary married and family life, their daily occupations, their physical and mental relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the hardships of life, if patiently borne—all these become ‘spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’.”Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 34
Picture an ordinary Tuesday lived the Chapter 81 way. You tell your coworker the honest truth about the report, kindly. You skip the comment war and send a friend a word of encouragement instead. You admit in a meeting that you do not know the answer and ask for help. You buy lunch for the person behind you. You finish your work without complaining and fold the laundry nobody asked you to fold. Nobody posts about it. But heaven notices, and so do the people you served.
Try this today: Tonight, ask Jesus: “Where did I serve You today, and where can I serve You better tomorrow?”
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 81 and an area of your life, and get Guidance made for you.
Renewal starts with how we listen. Chapter 81 opens with a hard truth: “Truthful words may not be beautiful. Beautiful words may not be truthful.” We all like the voice that tells us what we want to hear: the polished ad, the flattering comment, the friend who never questions us. St. Paul felt the cost of honesty when he asked the Galatians, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16, NRSVue). A renewed mind learns to welcome the plain word that heals over the pretty word that only flatters.
The chapter goes on: “Those who think they know much are not wise.” When every answer is one search away, it is easy to feel we have life figured out. St. Paul warns, “Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). A humble mind is not an empty one; it is an open one. It keeps asking God, keeps listening to others, and keeps room for the truth it has not learned yet.
Try this: Today, when someone gives you an honest word you did not want to hear, say “thank you” before you defend yourself.
Galatians 4:16NRSVue “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
1 Corinthians 8:1-2NRSVue “…Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge”
More Scripture: John 8:32 · Proverbs 3:7
A renewed mind needs something to aim at, and Chapter 81 points beyond the bank balance: “The wise Master does not store up treasures on earth.” Jesus says the same: “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). What we save, scroll for and daydream about quietly trains our hearts. So we aim our hearts at what lasts: God, people, and a love no thief can steal.
Then the chapter turns the world’s math upside down: “The more he serves, the more blessings he receives. The more he gives, the more abundant he becomes.” Jesus, the true Master, lived it: “even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). We do not aim to be served, noticed or ahead. We aim to be useful to God and to the people He puts in front of us, and we find that our hands grow fuller as we open them.
Try this: Pick one thing you were keeping for yourself today, time, money or attention, and give part of it to someone who needs it.
Matthew 6:20-21NRSVue “but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Mark 10:45NRSVue “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”
More Scripture: Luke 12:33 · Proverbs 11:24-25
Renewal shows up in how we handle conflict. Chapter 81 says, “The righteous do not have the need to argue.” Before Pilate, Jesus “made no reply, not even to a single charge” (Matthew 27:14). He was not weak or afraid; He was at peace with the Father and did not need to win. We practice this in small places: the comment thread we do not join, the dinner where we let the last word go, the moment we listen instead of loading our next point.
The chapter ends with steady faithfulness: “The way of the wise is to fulfill their duty without contending.” St. Paul puts it simply: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing” (Philippians 2:14). Duty can be the dishes, the shift, the homework or the care of an aging parent. We do it well, without competing for credit or keeping a list of who did more. Because “the Way of Heaven benefits all and does not harm,” ordinary work done in love becomes a blessing to everyone around us.
Try this: The next time you feel the urge to win an argument today, stop, pray “Jesus, You stayed silent for me,” and listen first.
Matthew 27:13-14NRSVue “Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”
Philippians 2:14-15NRSVue “Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent…”
More Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:23-24 · Luke 17:10
In short: think humbly, aim at what is eternal, live by the Spirit. Love the plain truth more than pretty words, stay humble enough to keep learning, give and serve without counting, and do your daily duty in peace, like Christ, the true Servant of God.
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 inside us. When God changes a heart, He sends it out to serve. Chapter 81 describes the people He sends: they speak the truth even when it is not pretty, they do not need to win every argument, and they know they still have much to learn. They give without counting, because “the more he gives, the more abundant he becomes.” A true servant of God does not argue people into the Kingdom; he serves them toward it.
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 81 shows why: in a world of polished posts and endless arguments, people are hungry for words that are true and lives that serve.
Ardor is the fire of a heart that has been loved by God. People feel it before they hear a single word. Chapter 81 says, “The more he serves, the more blessings he receives.” The fire grows as we give it away, not as we guard it.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 81 warns that “beautiful words may not be truthful,” so share the Gospel plainly and honestly, without hype or spin.
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 81 says the wise “fulfill their duty without contending.” Our tools are not for winning debates; they help us serve people faithfully, one conversation at a time.
Use the words people use today: simple, honest and personal. Share your story, not a lecture. Chapter 81 warns that “beautiful words may not be truthful,” so share the Gospel plainly and honestly, without hype or spin.
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 “truthful words may not be beautiful,” when did a hard, honest word from someone change your life for the better?
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 81 says the wise “fulfill their duty without contending.” Our tools are not for winning debates; they help us serve people faithfully, one conversation at a time.
Every chapter has its own song and is written in a language people of every faith can understand. A doorway for dialogue. Chapter 81, True Servants of God, helps anyone tired of arguing, worn down by people who know it all, or afraid that giving will leave them with less.
A friend shares a struggle. Together, pick a chapter and an area of life (start with Chapter 81 when someone is stuck in constant arguments, or is afraid that giving more will leave them with less). 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 did Jesus stay silent before Pilate instead of defending Himself?”
Pray the Rosary with a guided voice, the daily mysteries and beads that follow along. Pray it with someone, even over the phone. Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, we stay close to Jesus in His Passion, where He did not argue with His accusers but gave Himself for us.
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. At Mass, Jesus, who came “not to be served, but to serve,” gives Himself completely, and we see how “the more he gives, the more abundant he becomes.”
Morning, midday and evening prayer reminders, a daily streak and a steady prayer rhythm help a new believer keep going. Morning, midday and evening, a short pause to remember that the wise “fulfill their duty without contending.”
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 81 says “the Way of Heaven benefits all,” so the people right around you are the first ones you are sent to serve.
- 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.
- At dinner, read the line “The more he gives, the more abundant he becomes” and ask each person how someone gave to them today.
- 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: “Truthful words may not be beautiful. Beautiful words may not be truthful.”
- 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 81, True Servants of God.
- 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 81 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 caught in a bitter argument, share “The righteous do not have the need to argue” and offer to pray for peace with 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 or on game day, where everyone competes, quietly live “fulfill their duty without contending”: cheer for others and help put the equipment away.
- Host a Chapter 81 “True Servants of God” 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: “The more he serves, the more blessings he receives.”
- 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.
- Every culture knows the gap between beautiful words and true ones, a natural bridge to Jesus, who is the Truth and came to serve.
- 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 will be tempted to argue, to impress, to keep a little more for yourself. Chapter 81 shows a better way: speak the truth simply, let go of the need to win, and give until your hands are open, because “the more he gives, the more abundant he becomes.” Go as a servant, not a salesman. The same Spirit who renewed you now sends you, to serve as Jesus served and to trust the Father with every blessing.
Lord Jesus, true Servant of God, 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.