June 14, 2025

Matthew 5:33-37

In today’s reading, Jesus asks us to speak the simple truth. In those days when he walked the earth, people had the habit of indicating how much they were telling the truth by swearing by heaven and earth, or by their own heads. Jesus reminds them that heaven is God’s throne and the earth is God’s footstool. Likewise, our own heads were created by God and we can’t even control what color our hair grows in as. 

Rather than worry about whether the listener believes us or not, simply speak the truth and stand by it. This simplicity goes with poverty, humility, nonego.  This simplicity goes with not plundering the earth and not manipulating other human beings. The simplicity of speaking the truth is a spiritual path. Amen.

Likewise this applies to our lives and how we manage our energy.  Don’t try to achieve so much. Simply be and keep it simple. Appreciate the sun and sky, and the earth beneath our feet. Remember the old ways, when people had not yet come to see themselves as machines or commodities.  Remember our human dignity, below heaven, on the earth, quite simply being.

You are tired. You may rest. Amen.