Let your "YES" be "YES

2 Cor. 5:14-21, Mt. 5:33. Sometimes the Scriptures seem to suggest that we are already saved, fully transformed and unable to fall back into sin. In today's first reading, Paul projects his thoughts that the Kingdom of God has been fully realised on earth. He writes, “Since one died for all, all have died” and, “The old order has passed away; now all is new.” However, we are urged to persevere, and hold fast to the grace we have received. The Sermon on the Mount is full of guidelines on how to persevere and grow in the spiritual life. In the session of the Sermon in today's Gospel, Jesus rejects the taking of oaths, the kind of swearing that seeks to control God for an individual purpose, swearing by Heaven, God’s throne, or by earth, God’s footstool, or by Jerusalem, the city of God.

The 'wrongness' of Oath-making in the name of God is in connection with the injunction: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”. Today, the Lord insists, that we must be sincere, by saying "YES" when we mean "YES" and "NO" when we also mean "NO". Many people had made oaths, yet broke them and make mockery of the oaths. If the people made oaths before the Lord or used His Holy Name, it becomes a mockery of God when those oaths are broken or disregarded. What Jesus means is that we should be totally trustworthy and completely honest in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Then, we would hardly need to swear an oath or make a vow, if we are reliable and always keep our word.

May the Lord help us to be true to our faith, committed in all the things we do and be more faithful to God! Amen!! Good morning and happy weekend!!!