Authentic Faith: Saying Yes Like Mary, Living Yes Like Christ
Today’s Gospel centers on Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.”
The Homily explores the simplicity and integrity behind this command, contrasting it with human tendencies toward exaggeration, performance, and overpromising . . . especially in spiritual life.
Using Mary’s simple response to the angel Gabriel as a model, the Homily emphasizes that God desires authentic faithfulness, not dramatic or self-centered declarations. Baptism itself is built on a series of direct “no’s” (to sin and evil) and “yeses” (to faith in God), illustrating the foundational role of clarity and sincerity in the Christian life.
The Homily also draws attention to the constancy of God’s Yes . . . embodied in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh . . . who remains ever faithful. We are encouraged to rely not on their own fluctuating strength, but on Christ’s steadfast presence and grace.
Ultimately, we are called to live out our yes and our no simply and truthfully, anchored in God’s eternal Yes to us.
Listen to:
Authentic Faith: Saying Yes Like Mary, Living Yes Like Christ
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A Quote from the Homily
And certain truth, the anchor of my hope, the anchor of my life, the anchor of my salvation is the yes, the eternal yes of Jesus Christ. The word made flesh and how do I claim it and cling to it? The Lord gives me a very simple answer. Let your yes be real. Don’t worry about justifying it. Just be about living it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
One of Several Our Lady of Victory Statues at the OLV Basilica and National Shrine, Buffalo, NY. 1926
The white nine feet version on top of the main altar, which is made of marble, was blessed by Pope Pius XI prior to its shipment to NY.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 33-37
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21
