SO HELP ME, ME

Monday in the 6th Week of the Ordinary Time
Mk 8:11-13

I wonder why we need to swear in a courtroom when we take the witness stand. Not that we may not swear inside a courtroom; not that we cannot swear while taking the witness stand; rather, we need not swear at all! If only we were only always truthful. Is it the courtroom that makes the witness credible? Is it the witness stand that makes the witness truthful? Is it the witness oath that makes the witness trustworthy?

Because experience shows that we are capable of deceiving and being deceived, we are required to swear before we take the stand. Perhaps, had we not learnt to fabricate stories, discovered the art of false accusation, developed the skill of twisting the truth, we would not have to resort to making oaths to be credible. If we were always honest, who would need to swear oaths?

Jesus alone can make His word stand on its own. He is His word. Who He is and what He says are one. He is who and what He says He is.

Jesus is both the reality that signifies and the signified reality. He is sign and signified all together simultaneously. He is the sign of God’s love for us but He Himself is God’s love for us made visible. He is the sign of God’s presence but He Himself is the presence of God in our midst. He is the sign of God’s power but He Himself is the power of God at work in and through us. So what else is left to signify when He who is signified is actually already revealed?

The first problematic about the demand of the Pharisees in the Gospel today is that the Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus for Jesus. They want Jesus to prove Himself when Jesus Himself is the proof. Thus, no sign is given them.

The second problematic is that motive behind the demand of the Pharisees is deceptive. They ask Jesus for a sign because they are testing Jesus. They are trying to trap Him so that they can have an accusation to throw against Jesus.

The third problematic is that it is not really a sign that the Pharisees want from Jesus. What they really want from Him is a proof. They are trying to provoke Jesus to prove Himself. Now, a sign is not the same as a proof. A proof may be a sign but a sign is not necessarily a proof. Take for example, smoke signifies fire but fire does not prove smoke. Fire produces smoke and smoke testifies to fire.

The Pharisees are not at all candid with their demand. They are insincere and dishonest about their really motive. Even if given a sign, the Pharisees will not believe. For those who believe, no sign is needed; for those who refuse to believe, no sign will be enough.

If Jesus were to take the witness stand in a case against Himself, He would not need to swear. He is always truthful and, therefore, trustworthy. It would certainly sound funny to hear Jesus take the witness oath: “I promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. So help me, ME!”