“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’”

A pastor once asked a little boy after Mass, “What did you learn from today’s Gospel?” The boy said, “I learned that Jesus doesn’t like ‘maybe.’” The pastor laughed. “What do you mean?” The boy replied, “Well, my mom always says, ‘Maybe we’ll get ice cream.’ But that usually means no. My dad says, ‘We’ll see.’ That also means no. But when Grandma says yes, it’s YES. She already has her keys in her hand!” The pastor smiled and said, “So who is most like Jesus?” The boy answered quickly, “Grandma. When she says yes, she means yes!” In the Gospel of Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches that following God is not just about obeying rules on the outside. It is about being honest and clean in the heart. It is not enough to avoid murder; we must also deal with anger. It is not enough to avoid adultery; we must guard our thoughts. And when we speak, our words should be simple and true. If we say “yes,” we mean it. If we say “no,” we mean it. In the first reading from Sirach, we hear that God has placed before us life and death. We are free to choose. God does not force us to do good. He invites us. His commandments are not meant to trap us; they are meant to protect us and lead us to life. The second reading from First Epistle to the Corinthians helps us understand how to live this way. St. Paul says that God gives us His wisdom through the Holy Spirit. This means we do not try to live the commandments by our strength alone. The Spirit helps us. The Spirit teaches us from inside. The Spirit gives us clarity and courage. So, the message is simple: Choose God. Be truthful. Be consistent. Let your heart match your words. When our “yes” to God is real, our whole life becomes more peaceful and strong. And when our words are honest and clear, people can trust us. This is the kind of righteousness Jesus wants — not complicated, just faithful and true from the heart.