8th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C - The Heart and Mouth & “Holy Hour of Lenten Hymns”
In this weekend’s readings, we hear about Jesus speaking in Galilee and about a Jewish sage named Sirach writing in Jerusalem more than a century earlier. The two of them touch upon a single truth: the words that come out of us make known the hidden thoughts within us. Speech reveals the secrets of the heart.
Sirach in the First Reading (Ecc. 27:5-8) teaches that speaking is “the test of men” and their character. One who is upright will utter words that are truthful and encouraging to others. But one whose heart is cluttered with “refuse” will be exposed, since the “fruit” of his mouth speaks volumes about the “tree” that produces it. Sirach also compares the testing of our words to clay fired in a kiln—if properly prepared, a useful vessel emerges; but if the clay is not fully dried, it will break apart in the extreme heat.
In a similar way, Jesus in the Gospel (Lk. 6:39-45) insists that a person speaks “out of the abundance of the heart.” He too compares our speech, whether good or bad, to what grows on a tree: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit.” Both readings urge us to make wholesome speech a habit. After all, much about who we are is brought to light through what we say. But there’s an additional step: The Lord is asking us to look inward, to examine our hearts and fill them with the “good treasure” that God desires.
Why do purity of heart and speech matter so much? Because, as Jesus declares elsewhere: “…by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”. They matter because they help to decide our final judgment, and this is where the Second Reading (1 Cor. 15:54-58) comes in. Paul reminds us that God will destroy death forever, and if we are to share in this victory and live forever with the Lord, then we must take all steps necessary to give our hearts and lips to what is good.
In honor of Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season that starts next week on March 5th, we’d like to share our latest video, “Holy Hour of Lenten Hymns”, a beautiful, one hour music collection created to accompany your prayer, fasting and almsgiving during the Lenten Season.
Featuring eight (8) never before released tracks from the Sunday 7pm Choir, our hope is that this collection of Catholic and other Christian choral music for the Lenten season enhances your 40 days and nights of preparation, fasting and sacrifice before the Holy Triduum.
Video can be watched by clicking here or on the picture below:
