Jesus continues his clarification and intensification of the Old Testament Law (thus creating the New Testament Law) today by taking another prescription and fulfilling its meaning in a deeper way: this time it is about vowing something to God.
The people of Israel were quick to make vows but not so quick in keeping them; they were quick in calling upon God in trivial ways to ensure their own success in business and the like; they were quick to make outright false oaths for their own benefit and self-aggrandizement.
Jesus tells them to stop doing this. An oath is a very sacred thing, and should be regarded and used as such. God indeed, made oaths and promises of faithfulness – for example, to Abraham and his descendants, to have mercy on them and to be their God and protector and provider. It is acceptable and right to make very limited amounts of sacred oaths if they are absolutely necessary. But Jesus would rather have it that we did not use God's name or call him to witness the trivial and the mundane – the secular and the common.
Simply giving your word, saying YES if you mean yes, and NO if you mean no, should suffice for everyone involved.
Words are very important and should be used as such. Jesus taught us the value of words – being LIVING WORD himself. We ought to regard words as we regard Jesus himself, and use them to make him more present in the world. Using words in a simple, direct and kind way can go very far – and it can give the oaths we do make much more significant and meaningful.
In the first reading today, Elijah did not even use words to call Elisha to come follow him; all he did was to put his cloak over him. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, actions speak louder than words. Let our actions today speak volumes about our trust in God, our willingness to follow the path of discipleship of Jesus and our commitment to communicating the gospel message in a simple, direct and kind sort of way to everyone we will meet!
Incline our hearts, O God, to your decrees; and favor us with you law!
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