Word of Life

By Chiara Lubich

July 2008

The Gospel brings a more interesting life, lights up the world, gives flavour to our existence. It is capable of transforming our lives. The Golden Rule is a real opportunity to discover this.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. (Mt 7: 12)

Have you thirsted for the infinite? Have you ever felt in your heart an all-consuming desire to embrace immensity?

Or perhaps you have sensed in your heart of hearts a dissatisfaction with what you do, with what you are?
If so, you will be happy to find a formula that will give you the fullness you long for: something that does not leave regret for days that drift away half empty....

There is a word of the Gospel that sets us thinking and, once we understand it a bit, makes us jump with joy. It sums up all we should do in life. It recapitulates all the law that God has inscribed in the depths of every human heart.

Listen to it:

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

This is the ‘Golden Rule’.

It was brought by Christ, even though it was already universally known. The Old Testament included it. It was known to Seneca, and in the Orient the Chinese thinker Confucius said it. And others too. And this says how close it is to God’s heart: how he wants all people to make it the basic rule of their lives.

It pleases the ear and sounds like a slogan.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Let’s love every neighbour we meet during the day like this.
Let’s imagine we are in others’ situations, treating them as we would want to be treated in their place.
The voice of God within us will suggest how to express the love appropriate to every situation.
Are they hungry? I myself am hungry, let us think. And we give them something to eat.
Are they being unjustly treated? So am I.
Are they in darkness and doubt? I am too. And we speak words of comfort and share their suffering; we do not rest until they find light and relief. We would want to be treated like this.
Do they have a disability? I will love them until I can feel in my own heart and body the same infirmity. Love will suggest to me how I can help them feel equal to others, indeed that they have an extra grace, because as Christians we know the value of suffering.
And so on without any distinction between those who we find pleasant and those we do not, between young and old, friend or enemy, fellow citizen or stranger, beautiful or ugly.... The Gospel includes everyone.
I think I hear whispers of dissent....
I understand.... perhaps my words seem simplistic, but what a change they demand! How far they are from our usual way of thinking and acting!
So take courage! Let’s try it!
One day spent like this is worth a lifetime. At the end of the day we will no longer recognize ourselves. A joy we have never felt before will flood over us. A new power will fill us. God will be with us, because he is with those who love.
The days that follow will be full.
We may slacken from time to time, or be tempted by discouragement and want to stop. We may want to go back to living as before....
But no! Courage! God gives us the grace.
Let’s always begin again.
Persevering we will see the world around us slowly change.
We will understand that the Gospel brings a more interesting life, lights up the world, gives flavour to our existence and bears within itself the principle for resolving all our problems.
We will not be satisfied until we have communicated our extraordinary experience to others: to our friends who can understand, to our relatives, to anybody we feel the urge to tell.
Hope will be born anew.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Next Month:
The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light. (Luke 11: 34)

 

Copyright © Focolare.org.uk
Website master: info@focolare.org.uk