Thursday 11^th September – Thursday of week 23 of the year

Reflection: Luke 6: 27-38

HOW DO I WANT TO BE TREATED?

As Christians, we are called to live by higher standards than the world around us – standards set down by Christ Himself and exemplified by His life. In today’s reading, Christ tells His disciples how they are to treat others. Whether they are interacting with their friends or enemies; with good people of seemingly bad people, Christ instructs that everyone should be treated with love and respect.

At the root of all the instructions is one that encompasses them all: “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” (Luke 6:31); this is called the Golden Rule. We all love to be treated with love and respect; even when we fail, we prefer to be called aside in private and corrected than to be put to shame in public. Indeed each of us knows how he/she wants to be treated. Christ says: treat others likewise.

Beloved, can you imagine how beautiful our world would be if all of us Christians would rise up to the challenge put before us by Christ? I bet every single person would be happier. It starts with you and I, children of God. Let us not allow ourselves to be derailed by the mentality of the world around us – one that is selfish at the expense of others. Let us rise up to our call and ask the Holy Spirit for help. As we live our daily lives, intending to treat others in a Christ-like manner, we will find ourselves happier, more peaceful and growing in holiness and only then would we have great reward and be sons of the Most High (Luke 6:35)

PRAYER: Thank you dear Father for the love and mercy you show me each day. Please help me to be merciful just as you are so that I will treat everyone I meet with kindness. Amen,

 KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1970 – The law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between “the two ways” and to put into practice the words of the Lord. It is summed up in the Golden Rule, “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets.”

The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the “new commandment” of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them”

Luke 6:31 RSV-CE

 Readings for Today: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-7, 11-13; Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-14, 23-24; Luke 6: 27-38