REFLECTIONS TODAY

Sometimes, we find ourselves in a situation where we have to tell a lie because of a greater good that results from it. And we even swear to back it up.

Still, the Gospel invites us to be truthful and honest with our words. We do not need to pretend or hide anything when we ask someone for help. The more honest and sincere we are, the more likely we are trusted and believed.

On the other hand, those who make so many promises, and even swear, and tell lies, are most likely the ones who will end up “eating their words” as they fail to keep their promises. “Say ‘yes’ if it means ‘yes,’ and ‘no if it means ‘no,’” is Jesus’ simple advice.

Lying and inventing stories just to escape from responsibility can become a habit. Being “successful” in deceiving others on one occasion can lead the person to repeat the same deception at other times until she or he becomes a pathological liar.

Honesty, or sincerity, is still the best policy. In a world full of lies and untruths, we can give witness to truth and honesty, instead.

First Reading • 2 Cor 5:14-21

Brothers and sisters: The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 103 “The Lord is kind and merciful.”

Gospel • Matthew 5:33-37

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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.