HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
My dear encountered couples:
Jesus tells us not to swear. We are to be so truthful that there is to be no need of our swearing. The honest person is believed by those who know him. Though the law sometimes makes us take an oath, in our private lives there should be no need to do so.
How many people are there in this world who are considered honest enough to be believed? I don’t know. Maybe we all have been guilty of one lie, or at least of shading the truth. The wise person knows that “Honesty is always the best policy.”
I find it to be that when I know a person has been lying, or deceiving, committing theft or fraud, it is extremely difficult to trust him — ever. I am always wary of anything that person says or does. It takes a long, long time before I can ever have confidence in him again — and maybe complete confidence will never be possible. I may try, but doubt usually sneaks into my mind.
I also find that dishonest people are untrusting of others. Maybe it is because they project their own dishonest words and acts upon others. Maybe since they know themselves to be capable of lying, they suspect everyone else. And when they experience even one actual deception from someone, they conclude “everyone is a liar.”
Each of us needs to look at ourselves as God sees us. Am I as honest with others as I want them to be with me? Am I even honest with myself? The answer is important. I swear it is.
