23 November 2026 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malabar Rite · Latin Rite · മലയാളം
“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
The short letter to Philemon begins with warmth. Paul, a prisoner, thanks God for Philemon's love and faith, and tells him: “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.” Some Christians are like a cool drink on a hot day; their love refreshes everyone around them. Their goodness flows from a heart rooted in Christ.
Jesus says the same in a picture: a good tree does not bear bad fruit; each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs do not grow on thorns. And the fruit of the human tree is above all our words: “it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” To change our speech we must change our heart; to change our heart we must stay close to the one who is good. St Clement, who wrote to the quarrelling Corinthians, knew that peace in the Church begins in the heart.
Theme: “Out of the abundance of the heart.”
Good trees, good words, refreshing love.
“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” Psalm 1:3
“for each tree is known by its own fruit.” Luke 6:44
Apply: Ask: what fruit did my day bear?
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23
“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
Apply: Speak no word of complaint today.
“A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
“I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.” Philemon 7
Apply: Encourage a tired person today.
A good heart bears good fruit.
Let our love refresh others.
Take-home resolution: Say one word of encouragement every day this week.
Dear friends, the short letter to Philemon begins with warmth. Paul, a prisoner, thanks God for Philemon's love and faith: the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother (Philemon 7). The very presence of some people is a comfort to others.
In the Gospel Jesus says: no good tree bears bad fruit; each tree is known by its own fruit. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:43–45).
Today the Church remembers Pope St Clement and St Felicity, trees that bore fruit. Our words reveal our heart. Today speak one word that refreshes someone's heart: a thank you, an encouragement, a blessing. Amen.
Children, a good tree gives good fruit; a good heart speaks good words. Say three kind words to others today!
Lord Jesus, make my heart a good treasure, so that my words may bring life. Through the prayers of St Clement and St Felicity, let my love refresh the hearts of your saints. Amen.
Today's two readings meet in one word: the heart. Paul thanks God for Philemon, whose love has “refreshed the hearts of the saints”, and Jesus teaches that “out of the abundance of the heart” the mouth speaks. A good tree is known by its fruit; Philemon is known by his love. The Church also remembers St Clement of Rome, whose letter to the Corinthians is one of the oldest Christian writings outside the New Testament.
Setting.
Philemon is the shortest of Paul's letters. Paul writes from prison to Philemon, a Christian householder (probably at Colossae), about Onesimus, Philemon's slave, who had run away, met Paul, and become a Christian. Paul is sending him back and asks Philemon to receive him “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (v. 16). Today's verses are the greeting and thanksgiving that prepare that request.
Structure.
Key words.
Verse by verse.
“to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:” (1:2)
A private letter is addressed to a whole church. In the first centuries Christians met in homes. Philemon's decision about Onesimus will be made before the community.
“I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.” (1:7)
Paul praises before he asks. His praise is sincere, and it also reminds Philemon who he already is: a man whose love gives rest to others.
How the Church reads it.
Paul does not write a treatise against slavery, but he places master and slave in the same family, as brothers in the Lord, and so plants the seed that would in time destroy the institution. The Catechism points to this letter when it teaches that enslaving human beings is a sin against their dignity (CCC 2414). The phrase “the church in your house” lies behind the Church's teaching that the Christian family is a “domestic church” (Lumen Gentium 11; CCC 1655–1656).
Setting.
These verses belong to the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20–49), Luke's shorter form of the teaching Matthew gives as the Sermon on the Mount. They come after the warning about judging others (6:37–42) and before the parable of the two houses (6:46–49).
Structure.
Key words.
Verse by verse.
“for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.” (6:44)
The images are taken from the hills of Galilee, where thorn bushes grew beside vineyards. You cannot pretend a fruit you do not have.
“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” (6:45)
Jesus moves from deeds to words. Our speech, especially when we are not careful, shows what we have been storing inside.
How the Church reads it.
The Catechism teaches that sin, like good, has its root in the heart (CCC 1853, citing Matthew 15:19–20). St Augustine, preaching on the good and bad tree, tells his people not to try to change the fruit first, but the tree: change the heart, and the deeds will change (in substance). Conversion is the work of grace in the heart before it is a change of behaviour.