Word to the Wise
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 - Tuesday in the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 and Matt 7:6, 12-14]"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets." [Matthew]
In his historic address to the U. S. Congress, Pope Francis reminded them of the "Golden Rule," which is quoted above from today's gospel. This "rule" has existed in many cultures besides the Old and New Testament cultures. We quote it to one another often, but with the same results as the Pope had with the Congress. Everyone nods solemnly at this timeless "rule" and then goes about doing unto others before they do unto us and in a way that will keep them from responding!
The Gospel of Matthew adds the line, "This is the Law and the Prophets." If we place this alongside Jesus' teachings about the two most important precepts of the Mosaic Law and the ethical demands made by the great prophetic figures, we hear the very voice of God!
When I was in grade school, the State of Louisiana distributed foot-long rulers to all school children with "the Golden Rule" printed on it. One can imagine what was done with those rulers when they became handy weapons! The irony of this was probably lost on us as children, but it is worth remembering. The Golden Rule has to be more than an external one if it is going to have any impact. If we continue to ignore Moses and the Prophets and Jesus (like the Rich Man ignored Lazarus), we are basically hitting ourselves on the head with those Golden Rulers! AMEN
config
view
logs
3840.0 KB
87 ms
4
