Idle Words

Gospel: Matthew 5: 33-37

The amount of empirical evidence to demonstrate the lack of value our human words have is considerable.  We make oaths, promises, pledges, professions, and statements of all kinds that have no substance whatever behind them, for our actions betray the words we say.  How often in the Old Testament do we see professions of faith and covenant oaths only to see the actions of the people contradict the words they claim to make.

This is the point Jesus makes in today's Gospel portion, and it is the point he made with his life on earth.  Jesus did not go about making oaths or creeds; he did not compose prayers or liturgies to be followed.  Rather, he went about doing good, performing deeds of mercy and loving kindness to others.  It was these deeds that formed his creed, and it is his example we are to follow if we claim to be his disciples and members of his community.

It is ironic that Christianity has become all about the recitation of creeds and professions and so little about concrete actions.  We hang on the word of every prelate as if it were an oracle of God, hoping whatever they say confirms what we already believe.  Perhaps instead we might put away our words and just go about living as Jesus did - going about extending the mercy of God to all, healing others, feeding others wherever we go.