When called by the Lord your God to a task or a mission, let your Yes mean Yes.
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 Elisha understood to this and so slaughtered his oxen and used the plough for cooking them. No turning back indeed!
So then, when we have made a decision to carry our cross and to follow Jesus, shall we look back? Shall we fallback to old ways or habitual sins? Nay! We move forwards with renewed minds and hearts striving always for holiness and right worship of the Lord our God.
For we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, and we declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. Amen
________
First reading
1 Kings 19:19-21 ·
Elisha leaves the plough to follow Elijah
Leaving Mount Horeb, Elijah came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant.
________
Gospel
Matthew 5:33-37
Do not swear: say ‘Yes’ if you mean Yes, ‘No’ if you mean No
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’
CatholicJules.net 