THE GOLDEN RULE
“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you;
for this is the law and the prophets (Mt 7:12).”
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us this “golden rule” which is a very useful criterion for our daily conduct and at the same time a guideline in our obligations towards our neighbor and the love we should have for others.
However, it should not be interpreted superficially for it could become a selfish rule, that is, a merely legal justice “DO UT DES” (“I give you something so that you will give me something”) which could be a manifestation of individualism and egoism at the same time. This rule goes further than that: it implies what we should do good to others in an unconditional manner.
As Pope Francis said in his US Congress Speech on Sept. 24, 2015:
“Let us remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt 7:12). This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.”
Nevertheless, this rule of conduct will be completed by Jesus’ “new commandment” where Jesus teaches us to love others as he himself has loved us.
“A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; EVEN AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER (Jn 13:34).”
Dear friends, it is a good occasion for us to examine ourselves whether we are living up to the Golden Rule out of love for God and to put the necessary remedy to rectify our ways for love of God andour neighbor.
Let us ask Our Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady, to give us the love with which He wants us to love Him and others as well.
Cordially inviting you to visit and like our FB page in www.fb.com/CatholicsstrivingforHoliness or sign-up to our website,www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org, so we can have a wider apostolic reach and thus help more people in their Christian life. Thanks! Fr. Rolly A., priest of Opus Dei.
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