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As St. Luke continues what he grouped together as “sermon on the plain” (6:20-49), [the counterpart to Matthew’s “sermon on the mount” (5:1-7:27), where both begins with beatitudes and ends with the parable of two houses], the gospel reading (6:39-45) refers to four parables: about enlightened leadership (v39), formed discipleship (v40), hypocrisy in correcting others (v41-42) and congruence of word and deed, bringing faith to action (vv43-45).
For thematic purposes, we focus on the term “speech”, ‘logismõ’ ( λόγισμῳ ) which appeared thrice in the First Reading from the wisdom book of Sirach 27:4-7 and translated also as speaking, conversation, language. The importance of effective speech is a favorite wisdom topic (cf also Prov 12,4:24,5:3,6:12, 8:13; Ps 55:21). Easily detected from this is the basic term ‘word‘, ‘logos’ ( λόγος ). Thus it relates to one of the themes in the gospel: ‘ex abundatia cordis os loquitor’, “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (v45c). This logion which sees speech as an expression of the heart illustrates that actions do flow from the internal values, and depending on the kind of formation received (v40) it is reflective either of an inner faithful or faithless spirit. Thus not all speech is honest and reflects the real person, for example, the multi-faceted language of diplomacy, slick commercial and advertising and the politically motivated historical revisionism, fake news and blatant lies (just to get elected).
Whether we like it or not our language betrays who we are, our age and sex, our temperament, profession, our honesty, our moral values and outlook in life and even where we come from. Speech is one of our most powerful tools for good or ill. We hardly realize all that it discloses. It can lead others astray (v39) or they can elevate the human spirit. That is no small responsibility. And when words are translated to deeds, they constitute as true index of character. As our lives and thinking are fashioned we will act: ‘Agere sequitur esse’, ‘Action flows from what we are’(vv43-44).
God chose to reveal himself through human language. Jesus taught in words, and that teaching was captured by writers in word. He himself, God’s Word, is the incarnate language of God. Speech is essentially revelatory. It is a window on the soul. May our words and deeds be always genuinely inspired by the very words and deeds of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
