Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:33–37
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to them of old: ‘Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.’
But I say to you not to swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
But let your speech be ‘Yes, yes’: ‘No, no’: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Neither Perjury Nor Oaths
Jesus calls us to authenticity: “Let your speech be ‘yes, yes,’ ‘no, no’.”
Oaths should not be necessary to guarantee truthfulness, because the true disciple of Christ should live in such a way that their word is always trustworthy.
In marriage, there is no room for manipulation or half-truths — not even when done with the intention of avoiding conflict. There is no such thing as a “white lie.” Any lie, however small, is a concession to the father of lies — the evil one.
The covenant we make as spouses implies integrity, honesty, and a coherence between what we say and how we live. This should lead us to approach each other with humility and sincerity. Sometimes it may be uncomfortable to tell the truth. Other times it may be hard to ask for forgiveness. But only with an open heart and honest words does love grow.
Applied to Married Life
Iris: I can’t stand your lies!
Alejandro: You’re overreacting. I’m not lying to you. It’s just that sometimes I don’t tell you everything, so you won’t get upset.
Iris: And that’s exactly what I can’t stand. You probably think you’re doing me a favour, but you’re not. A priest once told me that every lie is a concession to the prince of lies — the devil. Since then, I try to always speak the truth. And, Alejandro, you must admit that in our marriage, we should hold to that standard completely.
How can I trust you if, as you say, “you don’t always tell me everything”?
Alejandro: I honestly hadn’t thought about it that way. You’re right. From now on, I promise I’ll try to tell you everything — even when it’s hard.
Iris: Thank you, Alejandro. Maybe I was being a little intense, but the Gospel clearly says our words should be “Yes, yes,” “No, no.” Anything beyond that comes from the Evil One.
Alejandro: Well, you’ve made it very clear. I don’t want anything to do with the Evil One. Just hearing his name gives me the creeps. So, thank you for opening my eyes.
Mother,
Give me the grace to always bear witness with honesty and integrity, and never fall into the trap of lies.
Praised be He who is the Truth.