Say What You Mean

Jun. 15: Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

During the Mad Tea Party chapter of Alice in Wonderland,¹ the March Hare tells Alice to say what she means. She replies that she does, “at least—at least I mean what I say—that’s the same thing, you know.”

The Hatter replies that it's not, and the following exchange ensues:

“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “You might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!”

“You might just as well say,” added the March Hare, “that ‘I like what I get’ is the same thing as ‘I get what I like’!”

“You might just as well say,” added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, “that ‘I breathe when I sleep’ is the same thing as ‘I sleep when I breathe’!”

And that's what today's Gospel reminds me of.

Reading 1

1 Kgs 19:19-21

Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you."

Elijah answered, "Go back! Have I done anything to you?"

Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Elisha is all in on becoming Elijah's attendant. He won't take no for an answer.

But why? It was a simple act of kindness—Elijah keeping him warm with his cloak. Although Elijah is in a position of power and influence, he still sees his job as serving the people. Elisha recognizes this, and chooses to follow suit.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Elisha gave up everything to follow God's prophet. It's a tough model to follow, but it helps that we know God has a reward waiting for us in the end.

Alleluia

Ps 119:36a, 29b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

It's not always as easy to abandon everything as Elisha did, so we should ask God for help to do so.

Gospel

Mt 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One."

Swearing you'll do something doesn't actually affect the end result. All it really does is make one wonder if all those times you didn't swear meant you were lying.

Jesus wants us to be straightforward, where a "yes" is a good as a promise. We shouldn't need to swear by anything. We should say what we mean and mean what we say.

1. My daughter's favorite book.