Today I speak to you about a beautiful phrase in the Song of Songs:

“Your lips, O my spouse, drip as the honeycomb” (Song 4:11).

The Lord said it to the Church and to the human soul, and He presented to her a living example in His Incarnation…

Many people’s troubles come from their tongues, therefore they prefer silence:

They place before them the saying of the wise man: “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,” and the saying of Saint James the Apostle: “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison… it defiles the whole body” (James 3).

These people also love the saying of Saint Arsenius: “Many times I spoke and regretted it, but as for my silence, I never regretted it.” Therefore they see silence as better…

Indeed, silence is better than bad speech. Indeed, the uncontrolled tongue is deadly poison. But there is also good speech…

Not every silence is a virtue, for sometimes we are condemned for our silence.

And not every speech is a sin. There is a soul that speaks, and the Lord says to it: “Your lips, O my spouse, drip as the honeycomb.” The Lord also said:

“By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned…” Therefore, we can be justified by speech.

For this reason the Scripture says: “The lips of the righteous feed many.” There are therefore holy lips, from which come forth words of life and words of benefit…

Christ spoke, and the people were astonished at His words, saying: “No man ever spoke like this Man.” His words were spirit and life.

And He gave us an example in speech, for His lips dripped honey. Therefore we do not marvel when we see Mary the sister of Martha eager to sit at His feet in order to hear and contemplate. Every word that came from His mouth entered her heart, moved her feelings, built her up, and satisfied her…

Saint John Chrysostom—the Church granted him this title because his words were like pearls and jewels, and his lips dripped honey.

It was said about Saint Athanasius: “If you hear a word from Athanasius and do not find paper to write it on, then write it on your shirt…” And how beautiful is the title given to Saint Gregory: “The Theologian.”

And the Lord presented His lips as an example for us. David said about His words that they are: “Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10).

So then, what are the qualities of speech by which the lips drip honey?

Kinds of Honeyed Speech:

Solomon the Wise said: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul” (Prov. 16:24).

What then is this pleasant speech that he means?

It is the gentle and compassionate word, overflowing with love, affection, and tenderness, like the words of the Lord Christ to the woman caught in the very act…

The woman stood before Him humiliated and broken, dragged by harsh people who filled her with disgrace, contempt, and public shame, while she awaited her fate from His lips… Then Christ, the All-Pure, dismissed the men who condemned and humiliated her, and said to her: “Neither do I condemn you; go in peace.”

He did not shame her, rebuke her, wound her, or judge her, but with all tenderness He lifted her out of the mire and disgrace, and sent her away in peace, while she marveled at those two lips dripping honey…

In a similarly gentle manner, the Lord spoke with the Samaritan woman.

Though she was a sinner, He spoke to her about the living water and about worship in spirit and truth, and with exceeding gentleness He led her to confession without causing her embarrassment. So she left her waterpot and cried out in the city: Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did… without wounding me with a word.

And with the same gentleness He spoke concerning the city that closed its doors against Him.

The two disciples with Him said: “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume this city?” He answered them: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of! I did not come to destroy the world, but to save the world”…

I came to lift up the broken hearts, strengthen the feeble knees, and support the weak hands. I came to call the despairing to hope, and the sinner to repentance.

There is no condemnation in My mouth. Rather, in My mouth is a word of love and a word of salvation.

There are people whose words are like stones being hurled—harsh and violent, full of accusation, criticism, and wounding—but they do not build up. The sweet word builds up. The lips that drip honey win people’s love, and through love they build them up.

This honey is in the kind of speech, the tone of speech, its spirit, and its style.

† Among these honey-dripping words is the word of benefit:

The Sermon on the Mount, presenting the loftiest teachings ever heard by humanity; and the sayings of the Desert Fathers, for which people came from the ends of the earth to hear a beneficial word. For this purpose Pope Theophilus sought Saint Arsenius and Saint Paphnutius. Through this the Paradise of the Fathers was written. Also among them are the sayings of the Fathers that we collected in the Patrology collections, and likewise the beneficial sayings of spiritual guides for the guidance of the soul.

† Among the words that drip honey are words of blessing:

Like the blessing with which the Lord blessed Noah and Abraham, and the blessings found in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 28), and like Isaac’s blessing to Jacob, and Jacob’s blessing to his sons. Likewise the blessing the Church grants to her children in every liturgy and at the end of every meeting.

Therefore the Scripture commanded us saying: “Bless and do not curse.” Bless everyone, even your enemies: “Bless those who curse you.” Every person you meet, give him a word of blessing, a word of prayer, by which you gladden his heart and make him feel your love. Then the angels cry out: “Your lips, O my spouse, drip honey…”

† The lips that drip honey speak comforting words full of reassurance and consolation,

like the doctor’s word that comforts the patient and places hope in his heart… and the word of the father confessor who offers a solution to a problem, or comforts the heart of a despairing sinner, or gives him absolution from his sins… Among its examples are what the centurion requested from the Lord Christ: “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” Words of comforting consolation make you say: “Your lips, O my spouse, drip honey.”

† The words of those gifted with talents also drip honey…

Those to whom the Lord gave powers and wonders, entrusting them with His gifts… A person comes to one of these saints and asks him, saying: Tell me that I shall succeed. Tell me that God will grant me a son… Tell me that my problem will be solved… If he says so, the soul is filled with joyful hope, certain that it will receive. These are words that gladden the hearer, from lips dripping honey.

Hannah, while fasting, prayed fervently in the temple with tears and pouring out of soul, asking for offspring… Eli the priest thought she was drunk and spoke harshly to her. But when she explained her situation to him, he prayed that God would grant her the request of her heart… So she departed from him rejoicing… The good word had made her happy—the word of prayer from the great priest, whose lips had once again begun to drip honey…

† The word that drips honey is an enduring and immortal word. It is never forgotten…

It extends its roots deep into the heart and soul from within. A person recalls it from time to time and never forgets it. It inhabits his heart and is firmly fixed in his memory. It is a living word, extraordinary and enduring…

† Among the words that drip honey are also words of encouragement and praise.

Those of small souls, the weak, beginners, and children need a word of encouragement that strengthens their morale, reassures their souls, and pushes them forward… If they hear it from someone, they say: “Your lips, O my spouse, drip honey…” Believe me, even adults are pleased by a word of encouragement or praise, so long as it is sincere and far from flattery… It works in souls like magic and fills the heart with love and contentment…

Use this method continually, and see its result…

† Among the words that drip honey are words of defense:

Imagine a person against whom everyone speaks, accusing and criticizing him… then he finds you standing in his defense… What would his feelings toward you be? Imagine a child rebuked by his family, then you embrace him and say a kind word to him. He will never forget it and will say: “Her lips drip honey.”

The Lord Christ defended the sinful woman who wet His feet with her tears while the Pharisee accused her. He defended the woman who poured costly ointment upon His feet while the disciples blamed her. He defended the tax collectors, the Samaritans, the children, and the Gentiles… And in His defense, His lips dripped honey…

† Among the words that drip honey are expressions of thanks and expressions of apology.

Thankfulness is evidence of appreciation, gratitude, and remembrance of goodness. The Fathers said: “No gift remains without increase except the one without thanksgiving.” And we begin our prayers with the Prayer of Thanksgiving. If this is so with God, who does not need our thanks, then how much more with people.

When you give thanks, your lips drip honey, and likewise when you apologize… because your apology shows your concern for the feelings of the one you offended and your desire to heal his heart. After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, we recite Psalm Fifty, which is entirely an apology… Would that you try apologizing to everyone you have offended; then your lips will drip honey before him and before God.

† Among the words that drip honey are expressions of appreciation and respect.

Speak respectfully with everyone, and you will gain everyone’s love. They will see your speech as honey. Speak respectfully with both the old and the young. Honor everyone older than you in age or rank, or more knowledgeable than you, just as you honor your spiritual and physical fathers and everyone who renders service to you or to others. Even a respectful phrase said to one beneath you wins his heart to you.

The lips whose expressions are pure and respectful toward people overflow with honey.

This respect and reverence we see toward God in prayers of praise and glorification. The angels hear them and say: “Your lips, O my spouse, drip honey.”

† What more shall I say about the words that drip honey? Among them are:

Words of love that reveal sincere affection; words of welcome that reveal your joy in meeting others; words of integrity and courage; words of truth in the most difficult times; words of wisdom full of depth; and words of humility full of modesty…

All of them proceed from lips dripping honey…

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An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – in El-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Fifty-One) 23-12-1977

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