Daily Gospel Reflection for June 14, 2025

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Colleen Rooney

Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

As an adult Catholic, it was not until I read one of Scott Hahn’s books that I came across references to oaths and oath-taking. I had faint recollections from childhood of Perry Mason TV shows that my parents watched where oaths were taken before anyone gave testimony in a court case. There may have been brief references to oaths when the Second Commandment was taught in school. If there were, I don’t remember them.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2150 states: "The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the Divine truthfulness as a pledge of one’s own truthfulness. An oath engages the Lord’s name. 'You shall fear the LORD your God; You shall serve Him and swear by His name.'"

Our Lord directs us to avoid taking oaths casually. He tells us to simply say yes when we mean yes and no when we mean no. He is pointing out to us the serious nature of the oath. It is asking God to witness to the truthfulness of what we are saying because what we are saying is of such a serious nature it requires God’s witness. The nature of most of our conversations is satisfied by a simple yes or no. The serious nature of the oath should be left for serious matters in court and solemn ceremonies, for example the swearing in of a president or governor.

When educating our children in the faith, it is good to check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church or another good catechism to cover explanations of the commandments more fully as the children mature.

Ponder:

What does taking an oath consists of, and what direction does Jesus give us regarding oath-taking?

Pray:

Lord, I ask You for the grace to always be sincere and truthful in what I say. May my yes be yes and my no be no.

Copyright 2025 Colleen Rooney

Colleen Rooney is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is the author of Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children. She is a docent at the museum of Our Lady of La Leche Shrine, the oldest Marian shrine in the U.S. She lives with her husband in St. Augustine, FL.