+ Our readings today are about speech, speaking,
communication. Jesus makes it clear that what comes out of the mouth
proceeds from the heart, and not essentially from the mind, although the mind
must interact with the heart to make its final proclamation. This sounds kind
of illogical, but it is very true. We speak from the fullness of the heart, the
overflowing well-spring of either good or bad intention and will. Things,
situations, circumstances, propositions, ideas are either basically good or
bad, productive of goodness and truth, or of badness and deceit and lies.
Yes, it seems more logical to
believe what Jesus says.
And so, St. Paul in the second
reading from the letter to the Corinthians tells them and us to be firm,
steadfast, and always devoted to the good works of the Lord, knowing that in
the end we will indeed be rewarded after the test and struggle of earthly life
is over for us.
The first reading from the
Book of Sirach tells us to be word-wise and wait for the speaker to speak
before we praise him, for in his presentation he will reveal his true heart and
mind.
It is so easy at times to spot
the one whose heart is very lax, very confused, very cunning, very deceitful
and very malicious at the core. We must pray for these souls, so that they can
have their outside match their inside, if not for the smooth running of a
family, a workplace, a school, a church community, a sports team. Enterprises
must run on truth and good and beauty and justice.
Jesus is all these things in
the flesh! Let us call on him who knows what it is like to live in a human body,
to help us live in ours, while we are always vigilant to help others live in
theirs, for the love of God and his ultimate plan for our astounding and unimagined
happiness.
The
just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he
grow.
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