Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 14, 2014 - Saturday in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 19:19-21 and Matt 5:33-37]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 you 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One.
It would be easy to pass over this command from Jesus because the lectionary puts it on a Saturday! Yet, we seem to have lost this one entirely! Oaths are common! Can we imagine the presidency without the elaborate "oath of office" ceremony? Or can we imagine a courtroom or congressional hearing where those who testify are not required to make an oath (or "affirmation") that their testimony is true or they will suffer the consequences of perjury? In the Old Testament, even the prophets and patriarchs would call the mountains to bear witness or cut an animal in two to "seal a covenant!" In our own common parlance, we say, "Cross my heart and hope to die!" or more colorfully, "I swear on my mother's grave!" or whatever other blood curdling oaths we create as kids in our little clubs, etc. etc.
Jesus demands plain speech. Perhaps the basic truth in his command is contained in the expression, "Swearing doesn't make it true!" We have certainly lost the power of the word, "damn!" I hope so! Telling the truth and keeping a promise should mark the behavior of a disciple. If an oath is needed, there is already an element of distrust! Even the "Profession of Faith" that is required for taking an ecclesiastical office nowadays seems to show that distrust! This "Saturday Gospel" could make us squirm a lot if it showed up on another day of the week! AMEN