Sincere ambassadors

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the understanding that truth and reconciliation are essential components in developing relationships with people that are based in reality.

Truth and reconciliation

The Reading from 2 Corinthians outlines the Ministry of Reconciliation for ambassadors of Christ.

* [5:18–21] Paul attempts to explain the meaning of God’s action by a variety of different categories; his attention keeps moving rapidly back and forth from God’s act to his own ministry as well. Who has reconciled us to himself: i.e., he has brought all into oneness. Not counting their trespasses: the reconciliation is described as an act of justification (cf. “righteousness,” 2 Cor 5:21); this contrasts with the covenant that condemned (2 Cor 3:8). The ministry of reconciliation: Paul’s role in the wider picture is described: entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:19), he is Christ’s ambassador, through whom God appeals (2 Cor 5:20a). In v. 20b Paul acts in the capacity just described.1 

In Psalm 103 the speaker begins by praising God for personal benefits.

* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13)... .2 

The Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew introduces Jesus fulfillment of the Law in teaching about Oaths.

* [5:37] Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’: literally, “let your speech be ‘Yes, yes,’ ‘No, no.’” Some have understood this as a milder form of oath, permitted by Jesus. In view of Mt 5:34, “Do not swear at all,” that is unlikely. From the evil one: i.e., from the devil. Oath-taking presupposes a sinful weakness of the human race, namely, the tendency to lie. Jesus demands of his disciples a truthfulness that makes oaths unnecessary.3 

Joan Blandin Howard imagines us as a mosaic of stained class exquisitely crafted with every hue and shade of all imaginable color.

The Beatitudes teach mercy, peacemaking, compassion, comfort and non-violence, love.  In today’s reading we hear the familiar “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘ yes’, and your ‘no’ mean ‘no’.”If we do so, there will be no need of oaths or swearing.  Truth, justice, non-violence and concern for the other will  prevail.
Matthew’s fifth chapter is so well put together.  When taken as a whole it makes Jesus’ message, ministry and mission of love and non-violence crystal clear.  It follows that the greatest commandment would be to love God, and my neighbor as myself. Whatever my ministry, my vocation, concern for the other and non-violence are to be central.4 

Don Schwager cites a prayer from Thomas Acquinas and quotes “The Light of Truth,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).

Thomas Aquinas said: People could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another... (In justice) as a matter of honor, one person owes it to another to manifest the truth. Are you true to God, to yourself, and to others? And do you allow God's word of truth to penetrate your mind and heart and to form your conscience - the way you think, judge, act, and speak?
"Set a watch, Lord, upon my tongue, that I may never speak the cruel word which is not true; or being true, is not the whole truth; or being wholly true, is merciless; for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord."


"By the grace of gospel teaching, the law given by Moses acquired an advantage. The law prescribes that one must not swear falsely; but according to the gospel one must not swear at all. The Holy Spirit had seen fit to order this through Solomon when he said, 'Do not accustom your mouth to oaths' (Sirach 23:9). And again: 'Even as a well-chastised servant is not deterred from envy, whoever swears and does business will not be purged from sin' (Sirach 23:11). Therefore it is absolutely inappropriate for us to swear. What need is there for us to swear when we are not allowed to lie at all and our words must always be true and trustworthy, so much so that they may be taken as an oath? On this, the Lord not only forbids us to swear falsely but even to swear, lest we appear to tell the truth only when we swear and lest (while we should be truthful in our every word) we think it is all right to lie when we do not take an oath. For this is the purpose of an oath: Everyone who swears, swears to the fact what he is saying is true. Therefore the Lord does not want a gap between our oath and our ordinary speech. Even as there must be no faithlessness in an oath, in our words there must be no lie. For both false swearing and lying are punished with divine judgment, as the Scripture says: 'The mouth that lies kills the soul' (Wisdom 1:11). So whoever speaks the truth swears, for it is written: 'A faithful witness will not lie' (Proverbs 14:5). (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 24.2.2–4)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."]5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 declares that the truth is that we are living at the intersection of the “already” and the “not yet.” The new has indeed come, but the fullness of our new life will be ours only when we finally reach heaven. It’s here, in that intersection, that God has given us signs of life that point us to everything we can look forward to in heaven.

What are some of those signs? First and foremost are the “fruit of the Spirit”: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23). We don’t have all of these characteristics perfectly, but they are there, and they will continue to grow as we keep moving forward with our eyes fixed on our heavenly home.
You may not feel very new, but that doesn’t matter much. God has worked a miracle in you. He has made you a new creation. So lift your head a little higher and peer into the horizon. Heaven is awaiting you, and God is committed to helping you get there.6 

Friar Jude Winkler underlines the theme of a new relationship with others based on reconciliation. The order of the text places “angry letter” of Paul, in error, after his reconciliation message. Friar Jude indicates that the use of oaths may obscure the truth and may be used as a manipulative strategy.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that God and Christ are beyond gender, and all humans are a blend of masculine and feminine traits. But because Western Christianity and culture have primarily worshipped male images, he believes it’s important to reclaim and honor female wisdom.

 For women mystics, contemplative life is not so much a matter of transcending the illusions of mundane existence or attaining states of perfect equanimity as it is about becoming as fully present as possible to the realities of the human experience. In showing up for what is, no matter how pedestrian or tedious, how aggravating or shameful, the what is begins to reveal itself as imbued with holiness. How do we make space in our lives for this kind of sacred seeing?
This reclamation project spilled into my spiritual life and permeated the interior landscape. I began to leave the altered states behind, trade the razzle-dazzle of paranormal phenomena for the blessing of the ordinary. I flirted with the possibility of fully inhabiting the present moment, willing to investigate things as they are and myself as I am. I started looking with curiosity and kindness. As I developed this method of mindfulness, the impulse to be present expanded beyond the cushion and into the open field of my life.7

Truth, beauty, and goodness are bright lights in the mosaic of the Body of Christ. Our attention to these makes our light contribute to the intensity of life.

References

1	(n.d.). 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 103 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 15, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 15, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(2019, June 15). 10th Week in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/15/
7	(n.d.). Feminine Incarnation: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and .... Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://cac.org/feminine-incarnation-weekly-summary-2019-06-15/