“YES” IF YOU MEAN YES

PRAYER PAUSE

Satiurday 16 June 2018

“YES” IF YOU MEAN YES

Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading:  “Do not swear at all. … All you need to say is ‘yes’ if you mean yes; ‘no’ if you men no; anything more than this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33-3)

Reflection. The new world Jesus is announcing calls for limpid honesty.  We still “swear on oath” in court or on becoming president.  We still make vows when we marry or commit ourselves as our novices here in Lusaka will do today.  But strictly speaking promises and vows are only expressions of what we want to live deep down,  If we are commited it will be clear whatever words we say.  If we are not commited the words we pronounce are hollow. So oaths and promises are attempts to remind us and bind us – but they are not strictly necessary, nor do they necessarily express what is in our heart (which may even be hidden from us).  The only words we need to say, says Jesus is ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – expressing, as best we can, what is in our heart.  Otherwise we might say nice words but not mean them.

Prayer. Lord, help us to be truly honest, so that we say what we mean; so that our words are an expression of our life.. Amen