Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, 
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
I’ve been told, more than once,
I should preach from the heart,
no notes,
just speak.
But for me… that can be hard.
My thoughts come clear,
yet the words don’t always follow.
My tongue trips,
my lips stumble,
and what I want to say doesn’t always come out right.
So I write it down —
not because my heart is weak,
but because my heart longs to be understood.
St. Alphonsus Liguori taught
a sermon should be so simple
that even the poorest could grasp it.
That’s the clarity I pray for.
And before I speak—every time—
I ask the Holy Spirit:
“Fill me.
Steady my tongue.
Guide my lips.
Let simple passion carry Your message
to the hearts of those who hear.”
Today we remember John the Baptist,
a man who spoke truth so clearly
that even a king trembled.
Jeremiah reminds us,
“It was the Lord who sent me to speak.”
John lived that—
even when it cost him everything.
Blessed are the persecuted, Jesus says,
for theirs is the Kingdom.
So preach with notes or without them.
Preach with words or with example.
Whether your message flows smoothly
or stumbles on the way out,
what matters is this:
that you speak the truth God gives—
with humility,
with courage,
and with love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
steady my tongue and calm my heart.
Let Your Spirit shape every word I speak.
Make my message simple, clear,
and full of love.
Give me courage
when truth is costly.
And let all I say
lead others closer to You.
Amen
