Homily for Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus teaches His followers that they should be so truthful and honest that taking oaths becomes unnecessary. In ancient Judaism, people often swore oaths on various sacred items. However, as representatives of God’s message of reconciliation, we are encouraged not to swear at all. When a sacred object is referenced in an oath, it is as if God's name itself is being invoked.

The practice of taking oaths reflects the corrupt nature of humanity, revealing our tendency toward deceit and lack of trust in one another. According to Jesus’ new ethical teachings, truthfulness should stem from inner integrity rather than from oaths. In a society that does not assume evil as the norm, oaths have no place. We should avoid using deception or false arguments to persuade others to follow Christ; instead, we should simply present the truth of Christ through His words and actions.