There was a study done several years ago as to why people lie. The simple answer offered was that people lie because they don’t know they are lying. Lying has become commonplace nowadays. We are constantly barraged by ads on television and in social media that try to sell something by shading the truth about a product rather than telling the truth. People seem to accept this kind of untrustworthy behavior as a matter of course. They don’t see anything wrong with it. Yet, it is contrary to the gospel which says that “the person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones” (Luke : 16-10).

Many years ago, a man I knew asked me to pray for a citrus company he managed. He told me that the harvest was so bountiful, enough for two years, that his company could not find enough storage space for the over-abundance of citrus. Emphasizing that I would not like to hear what he was going to say because of its financial impact on poor farm-workers, he asserted that only a very poor harvest the following year could save the company from calamity. Well, the following year produced a poor harvest, and, what do you know, the company raised the price of citrus, citing the need to make up for the poor harvest. I spoke with the manager and asked: “how could you do this since you had an abundance of citrus left over from last year?” He murmured, ”that’s business, father.”

A person can rationalize what he does wrong by blaming the “system” or excusing what he does by saying, “that’s not really me.” But it is you and your actions have consequences even if you are only pretending to be somebody else or if you are only following the “system.” There’s an insightful book, Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut which deals with this kind of pretend-life which does enormous damage to others. Its a good read.

There is no honest reason why businesses should resort to greedy tactics that cause so much suffering to others. Lately, Facebook got into trouble when its data scientists tried to manipulate the reactions and emotions of its readers for its own selfish advantage. Fortunately, these greedy tactics were exposed, and Facebook had to acknowledge wrongdoing, at least for the time being.

Today’s message, obviously, poses a daunting challenge in today’s digital age.

The truth is a difficult pill to swallow. People who are not trustworthy do not trust others. This is why lie-detector tests are being used in job applications. This is why employees in many businesses are asked to take oaths or sign secrecy agreements. But the gospel says we should not have to take oaths. Our answer should be “yes” when it means “yes” and “no” when it means “no.”

If people are trustworthy they do not have to take oaths or lie-detector tests. Their word is their bond. Their “yes” means “yes”; their “no” means “no” ( Matthew 5 : 37 ).

The sixth beatitude states: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” People who are trustworthy possess purity of heart to be truthful and honest.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy