November 3rd, 2024 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today, when an agreement is made - the word of one to another does not have the binding force it did when Moses and Jesus made the statement above! (Jesus, repeats Moses in the Gospel today!)

To do anything with our whole being is to abandon our self into fully carrying out what was agreed.

The binding force of a “hand-shake”; the commitment of “I Will”; or the simple agreement spoke between strangers. These agreements need to be in writing to have binding force today. Maybe even lawyers or contracts are required to bind each person to the agreement.

Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

                                                                                                                                                             (Matt. 5:37)

The “FEAR” that is meant, is not the dreading that the word means today but, a sort of wonderous “AWE” of awareness without the knowledge of understanding. For GOD can be known without understanding because he makes us aware of him while we could never understand the totality of the eternal person or mind!

AND, notice the word “ENJOIN”. Here too is the sense of awe in being given the task to obey. This type of “given a task” is not a command – but good advice that if not followed will harm the person. The message is the instruction for successful living! Like an “operation manual” for the human condition. (God would know what is best for us to obtain eternal life!)

Matthew’s Gospel has Jesus repeat Moses’ teaching and adds that they summarize the teachings of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets. Then, Jesus adds that Love is the most important element for us to apply this teaching to God and our neighbors.

I think the greatest way we can serve God on a daily basis is to be honest, humble and caring. Integrity comes out of that when we agree to a task. The fact that we said “YES” is a bond that we need to honor with: with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Let our word be our guarantee! If we say it – we will do it when the deed needs to be done. No matter what, our Yes means YES and if we need to say NO we honor that commitment too! It is rare person today that can be trusted to follow through on a simple agreement. Integrity and honest build a strong society. We need to build more trust in this world.

Christ has enjoined us to be true in word and deed!

May God Bless you!

Fr. Patrick Nelson, SDS