June 21, 2016 Tuesday 12th Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: 2 Kgs 19: 9b-11. 14-21. 31-35a. 36 Gospel: Mt 7:6, 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, or throw your pearls to the pigs: they might trample on them and even turn on you and tear you to pieces.
So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets…”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
The maxim “Do unto others what you want others do unto you” (Matt. 7: 6, 12-14) has counterparts that are negatively formulated. One is in the Old Testament: “Do to no one what you yourself dislike” (Tobit 4:15). Another is in Confucianism. When Confucius was asked if there is one word that can lead us to the right path, he said: “Yes. Reciprocity! What you do not wish yourself, do not unto others” (Ware, James, The Sayings of Confucius, 1958).
Some preachers, like T.B. Larimore, refer to these negative formulations as the Silver Rule, and to Jesus’ positive formulation as the Golden Rule. Wayne Jackson posted an article in a website criticizing the Silver Rule. He says that it forbids much and enjoins nothing. It forbids stealing, for example, but is silent about a man who finds a wallet and keeps it for himself on the basis of the “finders-keepers-losers-weepers” principle. In contrast, the Golden Rule of Jesus covers both sins of omission and sins of commission. “The negative confines us to the region of justice; the positive takes us into the region of generosity or grace” (A.B. Bruce, The Expositor’s Greek Testament. Vol. 1. W. R. Nicoll, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1956).
“The golden rule commends itself to reason. It assumes that an honest person, properly informed concerning principles of truth and fairness, would have a reasonable idea of what is right for himself. Therefore, he should render the same to others. Remember, Jesus is teaching disciples-not someone who has no sense of moral responsibility. The rule contains the presumption of some moral sensitivity” (Jackson). So the focus of Jesus’ formulation is not on reciprocity (“what you want others do unto you”) but on extending unto others what you reasonably think is right for yourself.
Jesus said, “Do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets”. So it is the summary of the Law and the Prophets! It is therefore rooted in Revelation. Beyond mere avoidance, Christianity seeks performance because it strives to do more for God and for the dignity of fellow human beings. It seeks to love more. Here lies the “gold” in that Golden Rule. –(Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:[email protected].
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