Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 11, 2022
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
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.”
Today’s gospel could be interpreted as a challenge for lawyers. At first blush, it seems Jesus is telling us not to take oaths and not to try to put our best foot forward when we are trying to convince others that what we are saying is true. But how many times as a lawyer have I signed something under oath, asked a witness to do so in an affidavit, or sought testimony in court under oath?
Is Jesus telling us that there is something wrong with what lawyers frequently do? I don’t think Jesus is talking to us about what happens in a courtroom. I think he is talking to us about how we live our lives.
Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” When we go about our day and interact with each other, we should do it honestly and authentically. There should be a simple integrity to our words.
When I speak to my wife or my children, I should be able to do so plainly without trying to convince them of the truth of what I am saying. When I tell them sincerely, “I love you,” they should be able to know that I mean it.
I think Jesus also wants us to carry that attitude of honesty and authenticity into our life with him. We don’t need to talk to Jesus about all the good we are doing. Isn’t that trying to convince him (or, perhaps, ourselves) of how “good” we are? Rather, Jesus wants us to come to him with honesty about what we need and to lay our true selves bare to him.
By bravely embracing this simple honesty, we can work on what we need to work on in ourselves and become who we are meant to be.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, on the cross you gave Mary to us as Mother of the Church and our mother. Her “Yes” to God’s will for her life was the beginning of the Church and the model of all discipleship. Give us your grace that we may always say “Yes” to your Father’s will for our lives. Help us to always trust in God who has numbered every hair on our head. May we always reverence your holy name and keep holy the vows we have made to you, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Barnabas is most known for being the traveling companion of St. Paul in his journeys to establish Christian communities among people who were not Jewish.
Barnabas was not one of the 12 disciples, but he is known as an apostle because he worked so closely with the disciples. His name was Joseph, but the disciples changed it to Barnabas, which St. Luke defines as “man of encouragement.”
The Acts of the Apostles describe the early followers of Jesus living together and holding everything in common. Many sold their possessions and offered the proceeds to the disciples and to the Christian community. Barnabas is singled out for his contribution from the sale of his estate (Acts 4:36).
When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, many were skeptical of his change of heart. Barnabas spoke for Paul and helped the community welcome him. It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the other disciples.
The disciples established a Christian community in Antioch, and wanted someone from Jerusalem to help the new converts there—they chose Barnabas. He continued to win converts by his preaching, and found himself needing help. Paul came and spent a year in Antioch, growing the community there. It was in Antioch that people first started calling followers of Jesus “Christians.”
The Church in Antioch grew and flourished. When Jerusalem and Palestine fell into famine during a drought, the Christians in Antioch raised money to support people in Jerusalem, and they entrusted it to Paul and Barnabas to be delivered. The two continued traveling after that, preaching the Gospel and establishing new communities. Finding that the Jews did not welcome their message, they devoted their efforts to converting Gentiles.
After their journey, Paul and Barnabas parted ways after a dispute, and not much else is known of Barnabas—he may have been stoned and martyred in Salamis. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Barnabas, you were the apostle who established Christian communities in your travels with Paul—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Barnabas is in the public domain. Last accessed February 13, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
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