9 Mar 2017
(School Mass)
Jesus gives us the “Golden Rule” today: Do to others whatever
you would have them do to you. And it’s
called the “Golden Rule” because it’s so valuable to remember. However we want others to treat us, we have
to make sure we’re treating that way first.
If we want our friends to pay attention to us, well, we have
to make sure we’re at least paying attention to them first, and wondering about
who they are, and what their likes and dislikes are. If we want our parents to respect us, we have
to make sure we’re respecting them first.
If we want our neighbors to accept us for who we are, we have to make
sure we’re accepting them first for who they are.
Now, sometimes that works.
And sometimes it doesn’t. I mean,
you can be nice to someone, and they can still treat you badly. So what do you? Well, you be patient with them, you don’t be mean
to them, you tell them the truth—because that’s how we’d want others to treat
us if we were the ones acting badly.
But, with God, the “Golden Rule” always works. If we want God to pay attention to us, we
first have to pay attention to God—and God will pay attention to us. If we want God to forgive us, well, we have
to be sure to forgive others first—and God will forgive us. If we want God to talk to us, first we have
to talk to God—and God will respond.
So, be sure to remember the “Golden Rule:” Do to others
whatever you would have them do to you.
It’s the most valuable lesson Jesus teaches us. And it’s a lesson we’re reminded of each time
we celebrate the Eucharist. God wants us
to give ourselves to him, and so first, he gave himself to us.
God himself follows the “Golden Rule.” God has done to us what he would have us do
to him. He has loved us. And that’s all he asks in return: that we
love him.
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