An oath

Today, a new American President takes the oath of office.

Coincidentally, today’s first reading, which continues a journey through the Letter to the Hebrews (6:10-20), has this to say about oaths:

Men swear by someone greater than themselves;
for them an oath serves as a guarantee
and puts an end to all argument.

The main point of the passage, of course, is to reaffirm the firmness of our hope in God, who is greater than all.

So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise
an even clearer demonstration
of the immutability of his purpose,
he intervened with an oath,
so that by two immutable things,
in which it was impossible for God to lie,
we who have taken refuge
might be strongly encouraged
to hold fast to the hope that lies before us.

This we have as an anchor of the soul,
sure and firm...

Words to live by in an uncertain world.