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.”
I have often reflected on the Apostle Barnabas in this blog, and can think of nothing new to say of him today. But I will add: Tertullian, the great bishop, patriarch, and theologian, believed that Barnabas wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. There's no conclusive evidence one way or the other but he probably got the idea from lost documents or the oral traditions of his time. It makes sense to me as Barnabas and the unknown Author were men of genius.
And so I turn to the lovely invitation in today's gospel. Amid all the thunderous noise of today's controversies, can anyone let their yes mean yes and their no mean no without adding some emphatic punctuation? Isn't it necessary to add swear words to make one's point heard? Questioning the legitimacy of one's opponent parentage can also help, as does doubting their credentials, intelligence, and sincerity. In extremis, we can suppose our opponents have signed a pact with Satan, and they're probably Communists.
Jesus seems to mock all that cacophony with his teaching, and punctuates it with "Anything more is from the Evil One.”
Simple statements of one's opinion and belief without the aggression of raised voices and offensive swear words invites one's opponents to conversation. The teaching echos Isaiah's, "Come let us reason together." (Which is the KJV version of Isaiah 1: 18; in the Roman Catholic NABRE, it is translated as, "Come now, let us set things right.")
The setting is a court of law in which the Lord as judge and attorney will persuade his people to return to right thinking and moral behavior.
The assurance comes with promises:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
And with a threat: "But if you refuse and resist, you shall be eaten by the sword: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!"
Despite the threats and promises, there is an invitation to use one's innate common sense in conversation with others to discover what is best for everyone. No one has an exclusive claim on the Truth; no one can expect to impose on others with loud shouting, threats, or brute force the Ways of God. But we can discuss and we can agree.
At the heart of our Christian tradition is a belief in Truth. If the discussion has become far more complex with the emergence of many theologies -- Feminist, African-American, Liberation, Gay, etc -- the belief perdures that there is a foundation in Truth which emerges in reasonable, respectful dialogue.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.