Do not take a false oath
FIRST READING Sir 15:15-20 If you choose, you can keep the commandments; they will save you; if you trust God, you too shall live; set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, he has good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM *Ps 119 “Blessed are they who follow the law of the lord”
SECOND READING I Cor 2:6-10 Brother and sister: We speak a wisdom to those who mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the ruler of this age who are passing away. Rather; we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious. Hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for glory, and which none of the rulers of this ages knew for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, This God has revealed to us through the spirit. For the spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Mt 5:17-37 [or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a,37] Jesus said to his disciple: Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of the letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of those commandments and teaches other to do so will be called least in Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into Kingdom of Heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, you shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, “Raqa,” will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says “you fool” will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and reconcile with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent while on the way to the court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, year it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.” It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Again 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.”
NB: Our heartfelt thanks to the St. Paul’s Publishing, publisher of the book 365 Days with the Lord, a Liturgical Biblical Diary, from where we source the Word of God that we are sharing with our fellow faithful every Sunday.