LET WHAT YOU SAY BE SIMPLY ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’ (Matt 5:37)

⏰Saturday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (16 June 2018)

📖1 Kgs 19:19-21; Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10 (R.v.5a); Matt

We have this saying that honesty is the best policy. Deception is an evil that has kept the world in a seeming unredeemable condition. It was in fact what initiated the disastrous nature of our world today when the serpent deceived man into believing that he will be like God after eating the forbidden fruit (cf. Gen 3:1-5).

Today, most people do not believe that they can be successful in life if they don’t tell a lie.
👉A trader would buy goods worth 50 naira but will tell you that he bought it 100 naira and would sell 110 naira, giving you an impression that 10 naira is his gain;
👉An employee would hike his budget for any service rendered just to make extra profit from the service;
👉Civil servants and some other professionals lie about their age so that they can still fit into the service and work for a longer time before retiring.
The list is just endless but let us note that anyone who engages in any form of deception is simply playing the devil, the father of all lies (John 8:44) and his place for eternity is the lake of burning sulphur – hell fire (cf. Rev 21:8).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that God is Truth itself (CCC 144). Anyone who therefore claims to be a child of God must embrace truth in all things. Believe God when he says that the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). He will set you free from poverty, hunger, unemployment, and most importantly, eternal death.

Who do you choose to follow, the Truth or the father of all lies? Your action today determines who you choose. So resolve to be honest in all your dealings henceforth and see God embracing you with every kind of freedom.

May God help us all to make that resolution and stand by it always. Amen. Have a restful and happy weekend under the watchful eyes of the one true God. Peace be with you.