Reading 1 Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.
"And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Gospel Mt 1:1
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets."
Meditation: Matthew 7:7-12
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)
Most of us probably know this verse as “The Golden Rule.” But the Golden Rule did not originate with Christianity. The idea that we should treat others as we would want to be treated is found in the teachings of many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. It’s even embraced by those who don’t hold any particular religious beliefs at all. It seems to be something that many understand innately. But is there something different about this idea as Jesus explains it?
Perhaps its location at the very end of this passage can help answer that question. Jesus has just spoken about how generous our heavenly Father is. So what else could possibly follow but that we should imitate his generosity? This is the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34).
However, Jesus isn’t speaking of a mathematical equation here—as God does, so we need to do. No, he is saying that our generosity can be just as spontaneous and natural as the generosity of a father who likes giving good gifts to his children. We are all temples of the Holy Spirit, and that means that we have something extremely valuable to give out. We have the mercy, compassion, wisdom, and strength that come from the heart of God living in us! That “cup” of grace we have received is so full that it can’t help but overflow out of us!
Loving others as Jesus loves us goes beyond the Golden Rule. God wants us to be his light in the world. Consider the words of St. Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.” Every day, in every moment, God has a purpose for you that extends into eternity. That purpose includes everyone you come in contact with, from your spouse, children, and friends to the clerk at the grocery store and the homeless fellow on the street. If you bring Jesus into all these relationships and let him shine through you, there’s no telling what he can do!
“Lord, today I surrender everything to you. I want to do nothing without you. May all that I do for others be done for love of you—and in the power of your Spirit.”
No comments:
Post a Comment