Clear and clean
(Mt 5:33-37)
«Yes when it is yes, No when it is no». There is no need to give strength to trust.
Every oath - even sacred ones - is a loophole that does not heal an already dull reality.
The theatre of bombastic formulas only admits the conviction that the Other cannot be fully trusted.
Total transparency in relationships does not need stools to support it.
It is ludicrous to try to foster reciprocity by inventing the aid of the oath, which reinforces a person's word with something greater than him [capable of punishing in the event of non-compliance; then, be it as it may].
Good relationships, the ideal of justice, credit, and our whole life, come to perfection in a clear way.
There is no need to go round and round, to become artificial, to lean on other cautions that then renege on their words, even if they are well and perfectly staged.
Let us come to the theological point: what counts for the Father is the Person, not his symbolic expressions or his 'merits' - fake props to the you-for-you, to be set up in the window to hijack it.
Face to face is worth the whole lot: far more than what sounds by ear, far more than the accounting of what woman and man have fulfilled.
Our strong loyalty before God is not there; indeed, we need it. It is useless to hide the dust under a carpet of high-sounding mottos and claptrap.
Even the pile of “perfectly” absolved works of law provides no support.
In fact, the scaffolding may seem lofty and phenomenal, but it is an epidermal thing (often unfortunately insincere: castles of paper and papier-mâché) with double goal.
The Father is impressed by his creaturely masterpiece, by the frank heart of woman and man; not by the smoke in the eyes of impersonal hype set up for the purpose.
Nor does He allow himself to be blandened by platitudes of ritual expressions, acronyms, catchphrases; or even by our “heroic” fulfilments that risk undermining the character and Calling by Name.
There is nothing higher than our 'face'; the rest is cunning and lies. Very dangerous means.
The Puritan laymen used to say: «The greater the forms, the lesser the truth». Not: give to believe.
Actions, behaviour, crisp words. This is what it's worth.
In short, we must not 'improve' to external models and facsimiles - nor set up more events - except with his ‘Gratuity’, far more reliable, permanent, effective, than our [homologating and sometimes vanity] observances.
The power we have in our dowry cannot even affect the natural colour of a hair; this is the reality - behind the grand scenes we put in place to avoid admitting that... something is wrong.
Integrity that counts is quiet, transparent, spontaneous, forthright: it cannot be our stuff. Useless to make and remake 'oaths' to deceive even God.
To internalise and live the message:
Did you find yourself a merchant at the last fair? Have you ever expressed yourself as a forger?
[Saturday, 10th wk. in O.T. 15 June 2024]
