Good Friday is upon us. As I spent a couple of hours sitting with Jesus at the Altar of Repose tonight, I was reading from the Diary of St. Faustina, and a thought came to me, and I wanted to share it with you all. The power of the mouth.
“Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” (Luke 22:48)
One of the most haunting moments in the Passion of Christ is Judas’ kiss. It is a gesture of love, loyalty, and intimacy that, in a single moment, becomes an instrument of betrayal. Judas doesn’t yell or strike Jesus with his fists; instead, he draws near to Him. His lips perform a sacred action while murder dwells in his heart. We are witnessing something that should shock us to our core. It isn’t distance from Christ; rather, it's closeness without love. An outward sign void of inner truth. Scripture reveals why this is so dangerous:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34b)
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.” (Matthew 15:18)
“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 6:45)
Judas’ kiss was not a singular action; it was the revelation of the heart. As Job declares:
“Your own mouth condemns you… your own lips testify against you.” (Job 15:6)
This same gesture reappears on Good Friday but is transformed.
When we venerate the Cross of Christ, we approach, kneel, and kiss the wood upon which Christ gave His life. The lips and mouth are offered to Christ. There is closeness. But here, nothing is hidden. The kiss is not hiding behind a mask, but a revelation of the heart. It is an act of surrender, love, and recognition: this is the cost of my salvation.
The redemption of the lips:
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)
“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” (Psalm 63:3)
“Through him… let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise… the fruit of lips that confess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
Judas’ kiss masks betrayal; the kiss of the Cross proclaims love. Judas’ action leads Christ into suffering; we draw near to receive that suffering as love. The contrast is important. It is not simply historical. It is deeply personal. The same lips that draw near kissing the Cross also partake in Holy Communion. The same mouth that proclaims Jesus is Lord can also wound others with anger, slander, gossip, and indifference.
“If you are angry with a brother… if you insult… if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:22)
“You must get rid of… anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8)
The conversion of the lips and mouth:
“I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.” (Psalm 39:1)
“Keep watch over your lips.” (Sirach 1:29)
“Who will set a guard over my mouth… that my tongue may not destroy me?” (Sirach 22:27)
Words are not empty. hey bind the soul. A word once spoken can never be unspoken:
“Whatever your lips utter, you must diligently perform.” (Deuteronomy 23:23)
“From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things.” (Proverbs 12:14)
And yet, even wounded lips can be healed:
“Take words with you and return to the Lord… we will offer the fruit of our lips.” (Hosea 14:2)
This is why the prayer of Saint Faustina becomes essential. “When I receive Holy Communion, I entreat and beg the Savior to heal my tongue, that I may never fail in love of neighbor.” (Diary #590)
Saint Faustina’s warning:
“The Holy Spirit does not speak to a soul that is distracted and garrulous… He speaks… to a soul who knows how to keep silent.” (Diary #552)
Good Friday places before us a choice revealed in a single act — a kiss. One kiss betrays. The other adores. One is empty, self-serving, and false. The other is surrendered, truthful, and filled with love. Judas kissed Christ and walked into darkness. The faithful kiss the Cross and enter redemption. The difference is not in the gesture, but in the heart.
Each time we approach Christ in the Eucharist, in prayer, the sign of peace, and in every word we speak, we must ask, “Will my lips betray Him, or glorify Him?”
Lord Jesus, purify my heart and redeem my lips. May every word I speak, every silence I keep, and every kiss of reverence I offer flow from love, not pretense. Heal what is wounded within me, guard my tongue from harm, and let my mouth glorify You in truth, humility, and mercy. Amen
Blessings,
John