From the Fulness of Heart
Eighth Sunday - Year C
Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 92:2-3,13-14,15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45
Nearly half of the Bible contains narrative stories, followed by poetry - one-third - and discourse that takes up one-fourth of the Scripture. Today's liturgy of the Word is an example of a discourse that uses arguments, comparisons, and parables. The biblical author wishes to form our character, leading us to the right way of life. By telling us that “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45), Jesus calls us to examine the relationship between our heart and mouth.
Words reveal our hearts. Every time we speak we give off a lot more information about ourselves than we think. When Job lost everything and got seriously ill, his wife told him: “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). She was angry with her husband for holding on to his faith and with God for allowing such a disaster to happen to their family (see Job 1:13-19;2:7-8). However, his answer was: “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10). These words reveal his strong faith. The Bible then inserts a comment: “Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2:10).
In the second reading, apostle Paul from the fullness of his heart proclaims the message of Easter. Paul is using a metaphor of clothing to help us grasp the mystery of the resurrection. Our mortal body destined to decay will be transformed into a new kind of body: incorruptible and immortal (1 Cor. 15:54). Moreover, this passage also gives us a glimpse into Paul’s biblical knowledge. The beautiful quote, “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:55), does not come from the Hebrew or the Greek (Septuagint) version of Isaiah 25:8. In the former, the victory over death is still a future reality (Is. 25:8) and in the latter, it is death that is victorious (Is. 25:8 LXX). To proclaim that Christ has already defeated death, the apostle used yet still another Greek version of the Book of Isaiah.
As we move to the Gospel we hear Jesus speaking from the fullness of His heart. His wise saying can be summarized into three points:
1. Be careful who you follow as your teacher (Luke 6:39-40). False teachers can lead you off the track;
2. It is easy to see a tiny stain on other’s person face and unable to see an ugly smear on our faces. Hypocrisy and self-righteousness are the main obstacles to repentance and faith (Luke 6:41-42);
3. Our true personality brims over into words and deeds (Luke 6:43-45).
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart” (Luke 6:45). So, what kind of things do you store in your heart? Who and what do you listen to, watch, read, and think about? Whatever you store in your heart shall come out in your speech with people around you and in the messages, you post on your social networks. So pay attention to yourself. Store in your heart good things and avoid rubbish. Listen to God’s word, watch programs that can deepen your faith, read Christian literature, and think about your call to holiness.
Jesus Christ is the Word uttered by His Father. In Him is the fullness of grace and truth (John 1:17). He is our Lord and Teacher, we measure ourselves against Him, and in Him, we can bear good fruits. Therefore, let us hold on to the Word of life, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and shine like lights amidst the spiritual darkness of our world.