So, do to others whatever you would that others do to So, do to others whatever you would that others
do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and Enter through the narrow gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the road, that leads to destruction, and many go that way. How narrow is the gate that leads to
life; and how rough, the road; few there are, who find it.
Reflection:
Matthew begins the Golden Rule with the word “so”, thus indicating to us that the Ruleis, in fact, the summary of
the whole Sermon on the Mount,which began in the fifth chapter. Everything Jesus said before is concluded here:
That we mustdo to others what we would normally expect others to do for us. This is not the same as the converse
of it, which had existed in some ancient civilizations:That we shall not do to others what we do not want done to us.
That negative rule can leave us pretty cold to the needs of others and totally absorbed in ourselves. We just refrain
from doing anyone any harm… and any good either! That would be too easy, as a walk through a wide gate. What
Jesus demands is a narrow gate, a harder path: of consciously taking the lead to act, to do good for others. It is a
harder challenge,because, in doing so, there is no guarantee that our act would be reciprocated.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022
June 21, 2022
Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Do not give what is holy to the dogs, or throw your Do not give what is holy to the dogs,
or throw your pearls before pigs. They might trample on them, and then turn on you and
tear you to pieces.
Published in
Daily Gospel