6 March, Monday – The Golden Rule

Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Dan 9:4-10
Lk 6:36-38

“… do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.”

Today’s readings speak about the golden rule — to do unto others what you wish for them to do to you.

Many times, we wish and pray that others will one day realise the ‘wrong’ they are doing to us, how much we’ve been tolerating and how we’ve been so forgiving and patient to them. We make an effort to ensure that we do not become like them, as we believe in the golden rule. We’d rather do good than bad and we somewhat believe in retribution.

Are we actually righteous to live this way? Are we actually expecting something in return, or wishing something from the other?

In our readings today, we are called to give without counting the cost; for our Father in heaven first gives to us, whether or not we realise how much He has been tolerating us, and how He’s been forgiving us for our actions. It is so easy to say but so hard to do. It is always easier to be on the receiving end first. Others must first treat me this way, before I reciprocate.

May this Lent be a time where we are called to reflect on how God has been compassionate to us, how He has not judged us, how He has not condemned and how He has pardoned us. But more than that, also how He has continued to give us, whether or not we have given anything back.

May this Lent provide us with the grace to be able to recognise, reconcile and respond by being Christ to others. Amen.

(Today‘s OXYGEN by Benjamin Mao)

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remove the wooden beam from our eye first; before seeking to remove the splinter from our brother’s eye. Help us to enter into a deeper reflection, to not just look at our faults but also how You are ever so present in our lives. May we grow in deeper relationship with you especially during this time of Lent.

Thanksgiving: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.