Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church

 Lectionary: 364

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 your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”

In today’s gospel, from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus alludes to the commandment from Leviticus 19:12 -- "You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD.”

By the first century AD, Jews did not use the most sacred name of God, known as the "Tetragrammaton", even in worship, much less in swearing. But they found endless ways to refer to God’s name in their discussions, quarreling, and deal-making. All of these circumlocutions carried a soupcon of the holy name without crossing the boundary into blasphemy. For speakers and their audience it seemed impossible to make an important statement without underlining it with an oath.

That should not be necessary for most people, “the crowd” whom Jesus taught. And swearing is even less necessary for the circle of Jesus’ disciples. When we gather in conversation; when we dispute various points; and even when we commit to serious proposals: our yes means yes and our no means no. Nothing more need be said.

Many people suppose that the truth is obvious and speaking the truth is easy. That may be the most polarizing issue in our society. Where honest scientists speak carefully of what they know, often adding caveats and allowing room for uncertainty, their ignorant adversaries demand clear, simple, yes-or-no answers. The same politician who demands an answer for the public's concerns about the coronavirus disputes a scientist's careful response. 

But politicians know that most people have long-ago forgotten what little they learned in high school of the scientific method. The public want to believe someone knows what's going on and someone is in charge! 

Recalling the terms of the pop psychology book, "I'm okay, you're okay," where the public and their elected representatives act like "children" and speak like "parents," scientists respond like "adults."

Christians, charged with the ministry of prophecy, are known for speaking the truth, which always takes discipline and courage. Truth is revealed to those who are prepared to recieve it. It comes not only by way of facts, data, or information but also by intuition and insight. Honest prophets are well versed in the political, economic, and social issues of their time. They feel keenly the disparities of wealth, education, opportunity, and justice. They listen closely to the Spirit of God which moves through the world around them and within the prayerful silence of their hearts. As Saint Paul said, the prophet sees clearly what others make out dimly through the lenses of fear, greed,and ideology. 

Animated by the Spirit of God, prophetic people have no need to swear, threaten, or exaggerate. They bear themselves with dignity.

But, invariably, many people do not welcome the Word of God which comes through the prophets. They do not prefer the Lord's invitation to enter through the narrow gate of Truth. It is a road less taken which makes all the difference.