By William Selvaraj csc –
Readings: Gen 13: 2, 5-28; Mt 7: 6, 12-14
The gospel of the day clearly gives us a golden rule to follow all through our life as a Christian. “Treat others as you would want them to treat you.” From the day we are born, we enter a network of relationships with different people on a daily basis. Jesus reminds us that the way we choose to behave with each person we meet is crucial, because our happiness depends on it.
Daily, I need to keep loving others as I love myself. Offering a listening ear to those who feel unheard, talking to the wounded heart with the love of Jesus, and look at them with eyes of love and compassion are crucial. If I want to be encouraged, supported, and confronted, I must encourage those who are fearful, comfort those who are mourning and give support to those who are falling. If I want to be respected and valued, I must give value and respect to others. If I want to be forgiven, I must first forgive others who hurt me. It is not how much I receive but how much I give that matters.
Thus, Jesus says the measure you give to others will be the measure you get. So, if I give love, I will receive love, if I give peace, I will get peace, if I give joy, I will receive joy in the measure I give.
Entering through the narrow gate leads to life. Jesus challenges every Christian to test oneself whether he can let go of pleasure, power, popularity, and embrace the path of suffering, humility, and renunciation. Jesus through his exemplary life has shown us that he chose the path of cross willingly for the salvation of humanity. All the saints chose the narrow path by letting go of their comfort in service of others. Let us pray for the grace of seeking generosity, to give in abundance in the measure we receive from the heavenly Father.