Homily for Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus tells His followers that they should be so truthful and honest that oaths become unnecessary. In ancient Judaism, people used to take oaths on various sacred items. However, as ambassadors of reconciliation for God, we are encouraged not to swear at all. When a sacred object is mentioned in an oath, it is as if God's name itself were being used.

The concept of taking an oath reflects the corrupt nature of humanity, showcasing deceit and lack of trust in one another. In the new ethical teachings of Jesus, truthfulness should be achieved through inner integrity rather than by taking an oath. In a society that does not assume evil as a norm, oaths have no place. We should not resort to deception or false arguments to persuade people to follow Christ but rather simply present the truth of Christ - His words and actions.