"Yes" or "No"

  • Thread starter Thread starter tonyg
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tonyg

Guest
Matthew 5:37
37 Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.

The last verse of today’s Gospel reading is one that we have all read or heard many times. In our modern society, and daily lives, this one verse is more relevant than ever. It would be so refreshing to hear these simply words spoken more often. It seems, whenever a person is asked a question, one that should be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”; a litany of explanation is given, and the question is never answered. The need to explain a certain position, or take a defensive stand to justify a position, is now the norm.
With this in mind, I would like to ask a simple question: Do you love the Lord, with all your heart, mind, body, and soul? And one follow-up question: Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
“Yes”; to love each other unconditionally – “No”; to continue on in woe, the status quo.
 
No and no. I still sin every day, and my heart, mind, and soul are still very much self-centered. But someday, I will be able to answer that question with a yes.
 
tonyg said:
With this in mind, I would like to ask a simple question: Do you love the Lord, with all your heart, mind, body, and soul? And one follow-up question: Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
Click to expand...
No. No.

Such perfection is not possible in this life. There is always more to give, and thanks be to God for His grace for helping us grow a little closer to His each and every moment! And through His grace, I can even give thanks to God for my weakness, in which His grace is made perfect 👍

Awesome questions! And awesome reminder of the simplicity of the truth: Yes, or No.

Gertie
 
tonyg said:
Matthew 5:37
37 Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.

The last verse of today’s Gospel reading is one that we have all read or heard many times. In our modern society, and daily lives, this one verse is more relevant than ever. It would be so refreshing to hear these simply words spoken more often. It seems, whenever a person is asked a question, one that should be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”; a litany of explanation is given, and the question is never answered. The need to explain a certain position, or take a defensive stand to justify a position, is now the norm.
With this in mind, I would like to ask a simple question: Do you love the Lord, with all your heart, mind, body, and soul? And one follow-up question: Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
“Yes”; to love each other unconditionally – “No”; to continue on in woe, the status quo.
Click to expand...
You are trying to be too simplistic. If someone answers yes what does that actually mean? Does it mean they go through their entire life never committing a mortal sin? Obviously when someone commits a mortal sin they are no longer in a state of grace and therefore their answer cannot be yes.
Apart from Mary, Mother of our Lord, I do not believe anybody can go through life without committing a mortal sin. On that basis nobody should be answering yes to your question!
 
thistle said:
You are trying to be too simplistic. If someone answers yes what does that actually mean? Does it mean they go through their entire life never committing a mortal sin? Obviously when someone commits a mortal sin they are no longer in a state of grace and therefore their answer cannot be yes.
Apart from Mary, Mother of our Lord, I do not believe anybody can go through life without committing a mortal sin. On that basis nobody should be answering yes to your question!
Click to expand...
Isn’t a mortal sin quite premeditated, and always have to involve grave matter? It seems you have to really be trying to do it in order for a sin to be mortal. I don’t think it’s so hard to avoid them that they are going to force themselves on me, that is once my heart and mind are renewed in the Spirit, which I understand can take place on earth. 🙂

Peace and joy,
Alan
 
thistle said:
You are trying to be too simplistic. If someone answers yes what does that actually mean? Does it mean they go through their entire life never committing a mortal sin? Obviously when someone commits a mortal sin they are no longer in a state of grace and therefore their answer cannot be yes.
Apart from Mary, Mother of our Lord, I do not believe anybody can go through life without committing a mortal sin. On that basis nobody should be answering yes to your question!
Click to expand...
I wonder whether the verse means simply not to swear extravagant oaths you can’t fulfill.

learns painful lesson this past Lent
 
AlanFromWichita said:
Isn’t a mortal sin quite premeditated, and always have to involve grave matter? It seems you have to really be trying to do it in order for a sin to be mortal. I don’t think it’s so hard to avoid them that they are going to force themselves on me, that is once my heart and mind are renewed in the Spirit, which I understand can take place on earth. 🙂

Peace and joy,
Alan
Click to expand...
Okay so you and Mary are the only two who have never committed a mortal sin.
Joking apart, I honestly believe no Catholic can go through life without committing a mortal sin.
 
Luke_K said:
No and no. I still sin every day, and my heart, mind, and soul are still very much self-centered. But someday, I will be able to answer that question with a yes.
Click to expand...
The question was: Do you love the Lord, with all your heart, mind, body, and soul? And one follow-up question: Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
“Yes”; to love each other unconditionally – “No”; to continue on in woe, the status quo.
Your answer was no and no, but your heart’s answer was yes! You admit that sin is a problem in your life; welcome to everyone elses world as well. I believe that your answer is exactly what our Lord is trying to say to us. Only by saying yes and admitting we are not perfect can we ever begin to open the door for God’s grace. Say “YES”; and God’s love and mercy will indeed transform your life.
 
thistle said:
Okay so you and Mary are the only two who have never committed a mortal sin.
Joking apart, I honestly believe no Catholic can go through life without committing a mortal sin.
Click to expand...
I’m not saying I have gone through life without committing a mortal sin, but I am saying I have no plans or expectations to do so in the future. Fleeting bad thoughts, occasional temptation, but no premeditated, grave matter type issues. That’s like asking me if I would cheat on my wife. Not after 23 years, not ever. Period. It isn’t a prediction or a feeling, it’s a promise.

Why can we not all set perfection as a goal for ourselves? God does. Have we all been beaten down so that we can’t even take Him at His Word?
Matt 5:48:
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Click to expand...
Alan
 
thistle said:
Okay so you and Mary are the only two who have never committed a mortal sin.
Joking apart, I honestly believe no Catholic can go through life without committing a mortal sin.
Click to expand...
Mortal sin is avoidable. It is harder for some given habitual sins, but it is possible for many. Venial sins are another matter. Mary indeed is the only one who was supplied the grace to avoid even venial sins throughout her life. All Catholics can get past mortal stumbling blocks, and they must do so so that they can begin to work intensively on the roots of sin: the venial. And this takes a lifetime.
  • A
 
tonyg said:
The need to explain a certain position, or take a defensive stand to justify a position, is now the norm.
With this in mind, I would like to ask a simple question: Do you love the Lord, with all your heart, mind, body, and soul? And one follow-up question: Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Let what you say be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything more than this comes from evil.
“Yes”; to love each other unconditionally – “No”; to continue on in woe, the status quo.
Click to expand...
Actually, answering yes or no always comes first before the explanation. That’s why they’re called explanations. If I were to say yes on both questions, people will undoubtedly try to box the conditions that will qualify them as true. They disregard the possibility that unconditional love can be expressed in many ways and limit themselves to preconceived notions. If you go about without explaining how your actions are in line with your answers, people will eventually catch you at something and say, “Aha! You’re lying! You wouldn’t do that because !”
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Actually, answering yes or no always comes first before the explanation. That’s why they’re called explanations. If I were to say yes on both questions, people will undoubtedly try to box the conditions that will qualify them as true. They disregard the possibility that unconditional love can be expressed in many ways and limit themselves to preconceived notions. If you go about without explaining how your actions are in line with your answers, people will eventually catch you at something and say, “Aha! You’re lying! You wouldn’t do that because !”
Click to expand...
When we say “Yes”; no words are necessary to explain our answer, only deeds.
 
Well, this has been a very interesting thread, but I’m sticking with my initial answers: yes, and yes. :yup:

There was a time in my life – not too long ago – that I could not have answered that way. Those days have passed because the Lord has healed my ills. 🙂

Alan
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Ah but the question is: Can biased simpletons comprehend the complex logic in such deeds? 😉
Click to expand...
I’m not sure anybody isn’t biased, but what did you say about simpletons?

If being wise and learned is the key to knowing how you would like me to answer your questions, then let me be a fool.

Matt 11:25 said:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
Click to expand...

Do I love my neighbors as much as myself? Yes. Do I love God? Yes. Anything more than that comes from the evil one. But … if you want to hear more details, then go ahead and ask. Better you test me and believe than to think I’m trying to put one over on you.

Keep after your faith journey, and we will soon all be able to answer “yes” to those questions. I bet many people want to say “yes” and really believe they mean it but are afraid to because somehow they’ve been programmed to think that we’re incapable of doing what God asks of us. To those who love and who open their minds and hearts and say “yes” to God’s call, the kingdom of heaven is not far.

Alan
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top