Word to the Wise
Saturday, September 11, 2021 - Saturday in the 23th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 1:15-17 and Luke 6:43-49,1066]"A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for trom the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I command?" [Luke]
Many years ago, when I was a Dominican student brother (seminarian), our province had a summer camp where we students could spend the summer. There was a sign on the main bulletin board that said, "Be sure the brain is engaged before setting the mouth in motion!" In the light of the words of Jesus in today's passage from the Gospel According to Luke, I would modify that statement to change the word, "brain," to "integrity."
When Jesus speaks of good trees bearing good fruit, he is addressing the fundamental idea of "integrity." Does a person have values that are manifested in their speech and actions? In the case of a Christian, does that person have faith that manifests the values of Jesus' teaching and shows that faith in their thoughts, words and deeds. The fundamental connection between faith and action is what I mean by integrity. Jesus puts it bluntly and succinctly when he says, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I command?"
The challenge to have our thoughts, words and actions match our faith is one that is life-long. We are human, after all, and perfection is a matter of the degree to which our faith is matched by our thoughts, words and actions. We will make mistakes and commit sins. Our willingness to forgive and seek forgiveness is a sign of integrity. This will include forgiving ourselves for our failures. Staying close to the Lord's teachings in our thoughts, words and actions is the best way to insure that we have integrity, for "from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks!" AMEN