In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 5, Jesus talks about swearing oaths. In fact, He says we should not swear oaths at all. Why? Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” What does Jesus mean by this? He reminds us that our word is our bond. We should mean what we say and say what we mean. If that happens, then we would have no need to swear an oath.
Is it just me, or does it seem that this notion has been lost on society? We see so many politicians (I would be remiss if I didn’t single them out, wouldn’t I?), celebrities, business people and others just flat out lying. They call it “spin.” But Jesus never engaged in “spin.” He told it like it was, and said that we should do the same. So the question for us is this…is our word our bond? Does your “yes” mean “yes” and your “no” mean “no?”
Father, forgive us for those times when we engage in “spin.” Give us the grace and courage to talk straight and make our word our bond. Amen.
No Gus, it’s not just you! :)
My bride knows to not ask “Are you sure?” when I reply to her question. However, others don’t me as well as she does, so I have to contain myself when I get that question from them and have to “affirm” that “I already said yes – or no.”
I sometimes make a comment when I encounter “Well, to be honest..” or “To tell you the truth..” I just smile and ask the person if that means they have not been honest or truthful in the past.
“There is no such thing as ‘your truth.’ There is THE TRUTH and YOUR OPINION.” – Ben Shapiro