DO

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matt 7:7-12

Reflection: Sometimes the laws seem so complicated and sometimes they sound as simple as it can be.

What can we say about the golden or ethical rule of reciprocity: “Do unto others what you want others to do to you.” (vs. 12). It is so very simple, at least at a surface level: 

·          (Positively): One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.

·         (Negatively): One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated.

Is Jesus the only one to talk about this universal rule? No, according to experts almost all religions talk about this rule.  Some on the basis of this commonality conclude that all religions must be the same as they all teach respect for men. 

In the overall Christian sense if this rule is interpreted by Christians outside its Christian mileu then it can only lead one into an heretical blunder.

Lets analyze this statement in the light of the gospel and see if they mean the same in the various context in which it exists.

What do you want men to do you? For a Christian the answer is plain and simple: NOTHING

A Christian in the service of Christ would not want men to serve them and their personal self-interests but since they have devoted themselves to Christ and made themselves exclusive servants of the gospel they would want men to serve the gospel rather than serve themselves.

In other words I would prefer that if any man wants to do anything for me then let him do it for me by serving Christ or giving his life over to him because to glorify Christ is my happiness and joy.

This in reality means seeking the highest good for all men everywhere and this highest good we can achieve for all men, is by leading them to the truth of the gospel of Christ Jesus, the savior who came to redeem us, by the sacrifice of the Cross.

Thus the only thing I seek from others, is that they seek the truth of Christ and know him and his love for them. In the light of this, every other interests takes second place. 

Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom to have the right interpretation of your law always before me, especially in this age of deception.

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