“For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6.45)


Tuesday of the Third Week of Luke,

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6.36-45)

Our Lord begins today’s Gospel lesson with a warning not to judge others and end with a statement that our mouth speaks our heart. How convicting! As Americans we spend the better part of everyday judging other’s motives while never questioning their actions. I often find it odd that people, knowing full well that NOBODY knows their situation but themselves (and God), insist on questioning the motives of others; all the while ignoring and even condoning immoral behavior with the pretext of “judge not lest thou be judged!”

But there is a better angle…

This reading follows the Golden Rule in Luke’s Gospel, so taken in that context we see the real intent of our Lord: “Since you want others to give you the benefit of the doubt, you should give others the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t want to be condemned by others, then you should not condemn them etc. for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Our Lord never suggests that we should look the other way and condone sinful behavior. Saint Paul says, “Those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. For in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself.” (Romans 1.32-2.1)

Our reading ends today with a bold condemnation of our actions. Our mouth truly speaks our heart. If our heart is full of love our mouth expresses it. If our heart is full of judgment our mouth expresses that too. Before we rush to judge other’s motives we should remember that our motives are known to God and to us but nobody else. Our mouth is what betrays what we feel in our heart.

If you want your heart filled with love, speak love.