Daily Gospel Reflection for September 16, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

. . . for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Now that’s an entire Holy Hour in ten words! Even though my heart is buried deep within my chest, my mouth is its perfect reflection. Sometimes that’s a great thing and sometimes not so much! As I prayed with this Gospel, so filled with gems and treasures, I just kept coming back to this one line again and again. The sad reality that washed over me was sometimes my heart and words are judgmental and fickle.

The Holy Spirit painfully allowed me to see that more often than I’d care to admit, my heart and words were different based on what the person I was speaking to would think of me. I realized that sometimes my heart and words are more patient and kinder because I might get something in return. That led me to discover and prayerfully confess that my heart wasn’t always full of His gigantic love for me. If it was, the only thing that would come forth would be HIS love, HIS attitude and HIS words. I am His creation but don’t always bear good fruit, and that stems from the gunk I let settle into my heart.

If my mouth is complaining and judging and arguing and sassing, my heart needs a “love of Jesus” refill that only comes in prayer. Keeping my heart right so my mouth follows requires desiring the holiness of myself and of others. It also requires that I contemplate the fact that His is the only opinion of me that matters. Praying on those truths should get my tree filled up with His good fruit.

Ponder:

Spend some time in prayer with this line (Luke 6:45) and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the people and places that don’t always bring out the best of your heart and words.

Pray:

Good and loving Father, fill me with Your love. Send Your Holy Spirit to guard my heart against the worries of the world and guide my words to be a reflection of Your perfect love nestled sweetly in my heart.