The daily Word of God

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Dear brothers, peace and good.

Jesus continues to teach His disciples. This is the third Sunday that the Liturgy presents us with Jesus’ inaugural speech. He began by reminding us who are the happy and blessed ones. Today, the Gospel presents a series of sayings that don’t have much to do with each other, but they help us understand how we need to live to be blessed. Being a disciple is something we never stop learning.

The first reading reminds us that we know people when they speak. Ben Sirá gives wise advice: we shouldn’t let the first impression influence us. To know what’s in people’s hearts, we should let them speak because «a man is tested by his conversation.» Of course, words alone aren’t enough, but as Jesus says in the Gospel, «out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.»

For the fourth Sunday in a row, we hear from the apostle Paul. Today, he brings a message of hope, encouraging us not to give up despite difficulties. This is timely, given the state of the world around us. Paul summarizes his message: entering new life means that people don’t just regain their earthly bodies, but in the new world, everything will be covered in incorruptibility and immortality. This doesn’t mean we should be like the Apostles after Christ’s Ascension, looking up at the sky with our mouths open. Instead, he exhorts us to work, to be leaven in the world, to participate in what’s happening with the certainty that all the good we do and share won’t be lost. «Be steadfast and immovable,» knowing that our efforts aren’t in vain; every small drop of love counts in God’s Kingdom.

Christians should be those who see well, know how to choose the right values in life, and can show the correct path to those stumbling in the dark. The saying that a blind person cannot lead another blind person is basic logic; the problem arises when this blind person is convinced they can see and begins to lead others. We must be careful.

One solution could be not worrying about others’ lives to avoid harming anyone. But that wouldn’t be Christian. I believe Jesus isn’t telling us to ignore others. Everyone is responsible for themselves and also for their neighbor’s fate. But we also need to realize that becoming guides for others isn’t something to take lightly. If you’re blind and become a guide for another blind person, you’re responsible not only for your own fall but also for the other person’s fall.

Jesus continues to give advice. It could be translated as «charity begins at home.» It might seem a bit cynical, but it likely contains some truth. Let’s take a moment to analyze it: if someone isn’t reconciled with themselves, if they’re not at peace with themselves, if they don’t accept themselves, if they deep down hate themselves, it’s very difficult to be reconciled with others, to be at peace with them, to accept and love them. But, whatever we think of that saying, the one that is true, according to Jesus’ word, is this: «correction begins with oneself.» This means several things.

Firstly, not being blind to our own faults and sins, knowing their importance and severity, and not easily or quickly excusing ourselves.

Secondly, we might only have the wisdom to correct others after we’ve experienced being corrected and learned to accept it. It’s good to recognize our faults when others point them out. Let’s not shield ourselves immediately. Let’s be vulnerable and open to others’ observations.

Thirdly, and this is particularly emphasized by Jesus: we must strive to heal ourselves first, to fix and set our house in order before trying to heal others or fix their houses.

If I may borrow a charismatic quote, we could say, with the words of St. Anthony Mary Claret: «I will have a child’s heart for God, a judge’s heart for myself, and a mother’s heart for my neighbor.»

Once we’ve taken these steps, we can help others grow and eliminate their faults, which they should try to remove. We shouldn’t declare these faults as attackers. We shouldn’t aim to criticize them harshly. The truth, especially the delicate truth of a person’s faults, should be expressed with much sensitivity. It might be helpful to first discover and acknowledge all the good in the other person before suggesting areas for improvement.

How can we know who to trust, which advice is correct and which is not? In other words, how can we know who is blind and who is not? With the last two images in today’s Gospel, Jesus offers the criteria for discerning between those who follow the Master and listen to the Spirit and those who do not. Jesus now provides discernment criteria.

The first criterion is the fruit. The text mentions figs and grapes. From grape clusters comes wine, which brings joy and enlivens gatherings. If you approach a brother and his words bring you joy, hope, and make you experience the love and mercy of the Father, you have found the right person to help you. Jesus also tells us to be careful, because a brother who is lost in life might seek light, welcome, understanding, and love in our Christian community. Jesus asks that they find good fruits: sweetness and love, like figs, and not thorns that hurt, judge, and condemn.

The second criterion is the conversation. If one talks only about money, business, sports, or gossip, it means their heart is full of these things. Jesus also invites us to evaluate teachers by their words: «For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.» What they proclaim must always be compared with the Gospel. Then we can evaluate if what’s proposed is nutritious food or poisonous fruit.

Your brother in faith,