WORDS ARE THE GOODNESS OR BADNESS OF THE HEART
There is no doubt that our words proceed from the goodness or badness of our hearts. The Christian life and faith is not an external display of superficial piety or religiosity. It is a steady, constant and deep spiritual growth and development that bear fruits of goodness. Especially, by the ways, we live and interact with others. Therefore, the uprightness of the heart is from the introspection of spiritual growth from within the Christian Soul.
Christianity is not about membership of a Church or being a member of a movement, group or organization within the Church. It is not also about going to Church, wearing religious habits or sacramental articles.
It is the interior transformational life that changes us to be people open to the grace of God. A balanced spiritual life influences us on how we can relate with others in all ramifications of thoughts, words and actions.
OUR THEME
The scriptural readings of the Sunday invite us to be mindful of our thoughts and words to others. They challenge us to be more contemplative and less talkative as Christians. Equally, the readings create consciousness in us not to be judgmental of people. Since we never know their life histories and struggles humanly or spiritually. It is God alone who has the right to judge us.
In other words, the readings encourage us to focus on our personal spiritual growth as Christians and to become an embodiment of goodness. It is only a Christian with a thorough spiritual life who, then, we can help his brothers and sisters. Those who are struggling with human and spiritual failures or weaknesses.
We are supposed to stay clear of every form of self-righteousness that makes us belittle others. At the same time, we should be less judgmental or critical of the weaknesses of others. We must allow the grace of God to touch us and makes us docile to be more tolerant to others.
In practical terms, the readings help us to see that Christian life is not a guilty-bound or fault-finding life. This is what a religious-conscious mind does, while spiritually-minded people seek to help others grow by uplifting them in their struggle of life.
THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE READINGS BY FR ANTHONY KADAVIL
Jesus draws our attention to practical points of Christian living and challenges us to use our words as he used them in his preaching and healing ministry. He invites us to heal the sick and restore human brokenness to wholeness with encouraging words. Equally challenging us to bring back life, joy, and hope to the troubled soul. Today, the readings also instruct us to share our Christian life, love, and spiritual health by our words. We must avoid gossiping about and passing rash, thoughtless, pain-inflicting judgments on others. Thus damaging their good reputation and causing them irreparable harm.
FIRST READING: SIRACH 27: 4-7
The author of the Book of Ecclesiasticus known as Sirach presents us three images about our ways of speaking and the notable outcome they produce.
First, the process of sieving grains of testing earthen vessel in the kiln, and the fructification of a cultivated tree. These reveal their stuff or quality to all. In the same way, how we speak or talk do not just unveil our personality or character. It shows our thought pattern or mindset as a person.
For the author Sirach, the words we use when they talk reveal what is in our hearts. The richness or quality of our hearts depends on the kind of words from our mouths. The caution is to study a man by his words before trusting in him. Invariably, the best form of interacting as a Christian is to live out the fruit of silence. This produces or bears an internal enriching life with ourselves and with God.
In summary, this teaching of the Book of Sirach serves as an excellent preview for the gospel of today. That is, it reminds us when we want to be judgmental, to think before we speak because what comes out of our mouth reveals our heart.
PSALM 91 OR 92
The responsorial Psalm (Ps 91/92) advises us to spend our time praising and thanking God for all His blessings. Rather for us, to spend it on idle talk, criticism and judgmental attitude of others.
The psalmist encourages us to sing praises at all times and in every age and season of life. It is the most effective way of overcoming idleness and talkativeness.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15: 54-58
Paul offers a hymn of the victory of Christ over death.
If we persevere in the work of God, we should never give up or need not fear death. Faith is a product of silence and inner conviction. This is what assures us of triumph in all circumstances. Even in the face of severe criticism or harsh judgment and even with death.
In the second reading, St. Paul advises the Corinthian Christians to be faithful and steadfast. He admonishes them to be firm, steady and always devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labour is not in vain. In the real sense, he was like animating the Corinthians that instead of wasting time on useless and sinful conversations, which bring punishment rather than the victory of the resurrection and eternal reward.
THE GOSPEL: LUKE 6:39-45
Jesus condemns our careless, malicious and rash judgments about the behaviour, feelings, motives, or actions towards others. By using the funny examples of one blind man leading another blind man with the illustrative irony of one man with a log stuck in his eye, trying to remove a tiny speck from the eyes of another person.
Hence, Jesus encourages integrity and speaks against the hypocrisy of Christians. According to Jesus, people draw goodness from the store of abundant goodness in their hearts. While judgement and criticism are products of a noisy soul, sad or embitter mind and a hypocrite.
THE LESSONS FROM THE PASSAGE
No spiritual un-liberated or un-illuminated person can someone grope in the dark of ignorance and arrogance. Can a blind person guide another blind person?
Jesus warned that no teacher can lead his scholars beyond the stage he has never reached. That is a double warning to us. In our learning, we must seek only the best teacher for only. He can lead us farthest on; in our teaching, but we must remember that we cannot teach what we do not know.
Jesus teaches us that we have no right to criticize unless we are free of faults. That simply means that we have no right to criticize at all.
The fact is that there is so much evil in the best of us. Just like there is also so much good in the worst of us. Such that, it will be becoming for any of us to find fault with the rest of us.
He also reminds us that a man cannot be judged in any other way than by his deeds.
Our teaching and preaching are supposed truth displayed through our personalities. Fine or beautiful words will never take the place of deeds. That is very relevant to practical Christian life today.
For Jesus, the only way to prove the superiority of Christianity is to show by our lives that it produces better men and women.
Equally, Jesus reminds us that the words of our lips are in the last analysis the product of our hearts. No man can speak of God with his mouth unless the Spirit of God is in his heart.
Nothing shows the state of a heart of man, so well as the words, he speaks when he is not carefully considering his words. When he is talking freely and saying, as we put it, the first thing which comes into his head.
Indeed, one of our positive goals is to develop a kindly attitude toward our fellow Christians. It is for us to help them and leave it to God to judge them.
Without some inner silence or quietness from the rancors of internal noise within us, we cannot hear God or recognize his divine presence in our life.
The truth is that nor of us with the habit of silence from deep inside can grow from within as human beings Christian believers. This is the bedrock of our Christian faith and maturity.
According to Jesus, people draw goodness from the store of abundance in their hearts. Goodness doesn’t blossom without help; we need to cultivate it and make it grow in the depth of our hearts.
Jesus warns against self-righteousness. We need to turn to God within our hearts to purify our in-most intentions. This is what King David meant when he prayed, “Lord, create in me a pure heart; put a steadfast spirit within me.”
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, we are accustomed to noise and agitation. We don’t respect the wellness that can come from silence and being alone. Often, we are eager for news, images and impressions that we forget how to nourish and enrich in the deepest depths of our being. Help us to be still and know You are God. So that from the silence of hearts comes gracious, meaningful and thoughtful words that uplift our listeners and enrich our soul, spirit, and life. Amen
