Episode 2486: Hands Before Words - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints in heaven, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen”

Hands Before Words—Living Out Our Faith in Action
Tonight, we’re focusing on a powerful lesson from St. Peter Claver: "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips." We’ll also reflect on the words of Dom Augustin Guillerand and the Psalms to understand how our actions of love and charity bring us closer to God and reflect His divine life within us.
The Example of St. Peter Claver
St. Peter Claver, known as the “slave of the slaves,” dedicated his life to serving the African slaves who were brought to the New World. His statement, "We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips," embodies the essence of the Christian life—love in action. Before we can evangelize with our words, our actions must demonstrate the love of Christ. As St. James says in his epistle, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The witness of our lives, the acts of charity and mercy we extend to others, is the first step in proclaiming the Gospel.
St. Peter Claver didn’t merely preach to the slaves; he served them. He cared for their physical needs—providing food, medicine, and comfort. This humble service was a reflection of Christ’s love, and it paved the way for their hearts to be opened to the message of the Gospel.
Our Ultimate Desire: Union with God
This leads us to the second quote from Dom Augustin Guillerand: "What is 'fitting,' therefore—what we must ask God for—is himself; to be united with him, to be transformed in him: to possess him and to be possessed by him." Dom Guillerand reminds us that our ultimate goal is union with God. While acts of charity and service are vital, they are not the end in themselves. They are the means by which we grow in divine intimacy.
The Psalms are filled with this longing for God. Psalm 16:5 declares, “The Lord is my portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” This reflects the deep yearning for God’s presence, a yearning that finds its fulfillment not in the things of this world but in God Himself. When we give of ourselves, when we serve others, we participate in the life of God, who is Love itself.
Our acts of charity, done in the name of Christ, draw us closer to God. As St. Teresa of Avila said, “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world.”
The Call to Love and Serve
This call to action and union with God echoes throughout Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the saints. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Our acts of service are not just about meeting physical needs; they are encounters with Christ Himself. This is the essence of Christian charity—seeing Christ in others and loving them as He loves us.
By loving and serving others, we are transformed. As Dom Guillerand said, we are "united with Him, transformed in Him." This transformation is the work of sanctifying grace, elevating our souls to share in the divine life of God.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the wisdom of St. Peter Claver and Dom Augustin Guillerand, let us remember that our faith must first be lived out through our actions. It is through loving service that we become vessels of God’s grace, drawing ourselves and others closer to Him. Our ultimate desire is union with God, and it is through our hands—through giving, serving, and loving—that we begin to live out that divine union.

Let us strive to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world, so that our lives may speak the Gospel before our words ever do.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us the perfect example of love in action. Grant us the grace to serve others with humility and generosity, following the example of St. Peter Claver. May our hands speak the language of charity, and may our hearts always seek union with You.
Fill us with Your Spirit of Love, that we may become instruments of Your grace in the world. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.
St. Peter Claver, pray for us.
Amen.