a penny for your thoughts
"A good man produces goodness from the good in his heart; an evil man produces evil out of his store of evil." —Luke 6:45
We store up both the bad and the good. Eventually we get an abundance of one or the other. We speak from that abundance, which then is the fruit of our lives (Lk 6:44-45).
The key to a good life, good fruit, and good speech is what we're storing inside. If we're harboring resentments, unforgiveness, bitterness, hurts, and lusts, it won't be long till we have an abundance. Then we will mass-distribute all that poison, and the fruit of our lives will be destruction and death both for ourselves and others.
Instead, let's store up the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity" (Gal 5:22-23). These will flow from our mouth like pure spring water and bear fruit to life everlasting. Like Mary, we store up things by treasuring and reflecting on them in our hearts (Lk 2:19, 51).
Therefore, "your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise" (Phil 4:8).
Prayer: Father, I keep thinking about bad things. Remove these evil things before they overflow and hurt us all.
Promise: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I myself am the worst. But on that very account I was dealt with mercifully, so that in me, as an extreme case, Jesus Christ might display all His patience." —1 Tm 1:15-16
Praise: Mary, the Immaculate Virgin, pondered the mysteries of God's love in her heart and had words of praise and joy on her lips.
Reference: (Our Discipleship, Leadership, Redemptive Suffering & Mary retreat wraps together some of the basic principles of our faith in this powerful three days of teaching, Oct 9-11. Call 937-587-5464 or 513-373-2397 to register or for information.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 11, 2009
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