A Word on Our Word

Gospel: Matthew 5: 33-37

How often do we make a production out of making an oath or a pledge? We use a variety of props in order to convince people that what we are about to say next is true.  We place our hands on Bibles, swear on our lives, our children, and all sorts of things we deem sacred in a dramatic display of persuasion in the hopes that people will buy what we are saying.  

How often is it that such displays are as empty as our words? What becomes of these props when our words turn out to be untrue? Jesus asks us to just say yes or no.  Just be true to your word whatever it is.  No grand gestures are necessary.  The only assurance we can give is ourselves, and what we say and whether it is true or not will show what sort of a person we are.  We are either trustworthy or false in our word.  We must own our words accordingly.

This is the example Mary provides for us today as well.  When asked to take her part in salvation history Mary simply said yes and then she did it.  No ostentation, no props - just one word of acceptance and then doing what she said she would do.  The Beatitudes again - meekness, purity of heart, a desire for righteousness - ensures that we will not bear false witness, that we are true to our word and to one another.