15 June, 2024 | Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading1: 1 Kgs 19:19-21

 

Gospel Mt 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,

Do not take a false oath,

but make good to the Lord all that you vow.

But I say to you, do not swear at all;

not by heaven, for it is God's throne;

nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;

nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Do not swear by your head,

for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'

Anything more is from the Evil One."

Reflection: 

 In today’s Gospel passage Jesus advocates honouring of the precious nature of God’s Holy Name.  We already have a commandment – Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.  Swearing in the name of God, is just another route for dishonouring him.

Clearly, God is everywhere – heaven is his throne while the earth is his footstool.  Every bit of creation holds some part of God.  Even our hair is counted by God, who alone knows the timing of them turning from black to white.  Hence, swearing by any part of God’s creation also means, swearing directly against God – which Jesus says can come only from the evil one.

Again, there is an answer which Jesus prefers – either a YES or a NO.  This has no part of swearing in it and directly indicates if something is a yes or not. 

Activity: 

Use Jesus’ name as a mantra as “ Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us,” the whole of today, whenever you are alone and not in conversation, in order to make up for the many times others swear.