Do to others whatever you would have them do to you

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Today’s Gospel tells of the so-called “Golden Rule” positively taught by Jesus to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. This means that the good things we want for ourselves should be the good things we must also be wishing for others to have. At times, even those of us who desire to follow Jesus do the opposite of what the Golden Rule teaches. We always want good things to happen to us. However, when others would receive something good, which we ourselves do not have, we tend to become jealous and envious. If the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount invite us toward perfection as children of the heavenly Father, we can only be happy for our brothers and sisters for the blessings they may receive while being contented with whatever God may give us. How do we practice the Golden Rule? Are we happy and contented with the blessings we receive from God? Do we sincerely pray that God will set us free from the tendency to be jealous and envious of others? \*\*Gospel • Matthew 7:7-\*\*12 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 asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks 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.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [publishing@stpauls.ph](mailto:publishing@stpauls.ph); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).