Integrity

The WORD today reminds me that I should have integrity and honor God with my words. 

They say to have integrity is to say what you mean, and mean what you say. This is what God wants from us. 

In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples not just to take false oaths, but not to swear at all. He wants them to have integrity with their words. Yes should mean yes. No should mean no. No need to swear by God’s name. Integrity in what they say and in what they do. 

God wants us to honor our word. To be true to our word. Talk is cheap so he wants us to back it up with actions. He wants our words to be consistent with our actions - in our worldly life and our spiritual life. 

When we give our word, when we say something, God wants us to mean it, to do our best to keep it, to honor it, and to stick to it. In worldly life this is important, but more so in spiritual life. When we say we love God and we want to follow him, we should be ready to live it. God expects us to live it - that we be willing to die of ourselves and our selfish desires, and allow God to live through us. 

We honor God through our words. When we do what we say, and say what we do, we are witnessing for God. Our honesty and integrity would remind people how honest and straight God is. Our being faithful to what we say reminds people that God is faithful. Everything, no matter how simple it may be, if done for God, glorifies and honors God.

Nowadays, it is extra challenging to be like this. Our country is very much exposed to people who do not mean what they say. They easily say they were taken out of Context or were just joking and should not be believed. The integrity is gone. We do not easily trust the words of our officials. However, we should not be like them. We should continue to follow God and live how he wants us to.

How do I see integrity? How do I define it? Do I live with integrity and say what I mean and mean what I say? Do I believe God wants me to have this? In what ways has God shown his integrity in his word and in him taking care of me? How can I improve my integrity?

May we always be true to our word and testify God's goodness and greatness. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Lord i thank you for reminding me how important to you my word is. I am sorry for the times I am not true to my word. sorry for the times I do not keep my word. sorry for the times I tell you I love you, but do not live it. Help me live a life consistent with my words. Help me be true to my word. help me honor you with my words. May the way I honor my word remind people of your love, greatness and honor. In a special way, I lift up to you my parents who are celebrating their wedding anniversary today. Continue to bless them and be with them. May they continue to have integrity with their promise to always be together, with you in the center. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• JUNE 10, 2022
• June 11, 2022
• JUNE 12, 2022

• Readings for the Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

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Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Lectionary: 580/364

Reading I

Acts 11:21b-26; 12:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm

98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R.        (see 2b)  The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
            for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
            his holy arm.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
            in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
            toward the house of Israel.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
            the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
            break into song; sing praise.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
            with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
            sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R.        The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

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.

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.”