Scripture: Reflection for June 14,2008

Scripture: Saturday of tenth week in ordinary time. I Kings 19:19-21.
Psalm 16:1-2.5.7-8.9-10. Matthew 5:33-37. Lectionary # 364:

Oaths can be dangerous. Jesus is telling us not to take them! Seen
within the context of what they imply in Exodus 20:7, it is wise to listen
to his profound insight into this commandment. Amazingly, in the
dictionary there is an antithesis that has as one of the definitions of an
oath..."profanity." Within biblical context and reverence for God and
God's Name this is extremely important. In common language we have slipped
into profanity with the name of God and of his Son Jesus. We do well to
listen attentively to this antithetical saying of the Lord. Jesus wants us
to look deeply into the words of God given to Moses and to really take them
to heart. By reading always within the context of the whole of Matthew and
for that matter the whole of the Bible we do come to understand what he is
saying. At the end of the passage we get his intention with great clarity
as he tells us, "Let your word be 'YesYes' or 'No,No';anything more than
that comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37). This is similar to saying to
us 'Be true to thine own self' and especially to others in all domains.
Truth often hurts but as we commonly say, "honesty is the best policy." Or
"What you see is what you get."
James gives us a clear parallel to this statement of Jesus, "But
above all, brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth
or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you
may not fall under condemnation." (James 5:12). Both Jesus and James are
reflecting out loud about Exodus 20:7: "You shall not take the Name of the
Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes
his Name in vain."
Even the dictionary shows us this antithesis in the meaning of "oath"
by relating it to profanity in its fifth meaning! Paul tells us that Jesus
lived up to what he was preaching. "For the Son of God, whom we proclaimed
among you, Silvanus, Timothy and I, was not "Yes and No"; but in him it is
always "Yes". For in him everyone of God's promises is a "Yes." For this
reason we say the "Amen," to the glory of God." This Amen means "So be it"
which we proclaim in faith in response to God's benedictions upon us and
our thanksgiving for them." Jesus was on to something, wasn't he? Amen.