No Need to Swear; Be A Person of Integrity

(Homily for June 16, 2018).


“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” Matthew 5:37 

The eight commandment teaches us: “Thou shall not bear false witness.” In other words, thou shall not tell a lie. Telling a lie is indeed a very serious problem; a disease indeed capable of destroying persons. Even whole families and nations can be set ablaze by just a single lie. Telling of lies may appear like a minor sin, (one of those things) but in reality, it is one of the most dangerous things we can ever do.

How do you feel when someone tells a lie about you? What becomes of your relationship with such a person? If we really look at it, lying can even be worse than stealing or killing. My phone may be stolen for instance but within a couple of days or weeks, I could appeal for funds to get another one. However, when a lie is told about me, I could lose my reputation forever. A single lie can kill. A lie told to the authority about a person by someone of higher repute can tarnish that person’s future.

As much as lying is very dangerous, Jesus, today admonishes to take a step further. It is not enough that we tell the truth, we must also avoid swearing. There should be no need to swear at all just to back our words. The question you may ask now is: “if we are not to swear at all, how then are we to prove to people that we are saying the truth?” Simply, by being a person of integrity.

Always be truthful, sincere and straightforward. There is never a right time to lie. No lie should ever escape from your lips. Get used to saying the truth. Let your commitment to truthfulness at all times become your own way of picking up your cross to follow Jesus.

Remember, within this same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. If we actually live up to our identities, there would be no need to prove our facts or swear by anything. Jesus says, let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No.” Never be afraid of the truth. Never try to manipulate the truth because no matter how much we hide it, it must surely come out. The only proof of truth is reality. When we tell the truth, there is no need to swear because life itself would testify on our behalf.

Our first reading today recants the call of the prophet Elisha. We are told that as Elisha was working in the field, Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. We see her a mini-handover ceremony. Elijah had reached the end of his journey and handed over to someone else to continue the work of God. We learn from this passage that there is need to support the next generation. I once read somewhere that: “success without a successor is a failure in disguise.” Let us never be afraid to support the younger generation.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, make me a person of integrity. Amen.


*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Kings 19:19-21, Psalm 16:1-10, Matthew 5:33-37).*

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