The Golden Path

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time
June 22, 2010
Today's Readings:
2 Kings 19:9b-11,
14-21,31-36
Ps 48:2-4,10-11
Matt 7:6, 12-14
http://www.usccb.org/nab/062210.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_06_22.mp3
The Golden Path
What do you do when you humbly and lovingly try to help someone understand a spiritual or moral truth, but your wisdom is rejected? In the first verse of today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells us to stop trying.
When we offer pearls to "pigs", they don't recognize it as a treasure, and since it seems unfitting for their pigsties, they respond in the only way that makes sense to them: They trample on it. Or if they want to please us, they try to eat the pearls and choke. Under these circumstances, it's actually more loving to keep the pearls away from them.
Bring to mind an incident when you tried to help someone change and that person rejected your advice. Let's analyze it. At what point would it have been best to quit trying because you were casting pearls before swine? We have to become good at discerning when to try and when to quit, and we can only do this well through the help of the Holy Spirit. Timing is everything, and only God knows when the timing is perfect.
Isn't this how we like to be treated? Don't we prefer that others keep their mouths shut when we're not ready for their advice? In the rest of today's Gospel passage, Jesus gives us the "Golden Rule" as a sign-post that keeps us on the narrow road (to the "narrow gate") of unconditional love. The precursor to this was the "Silver Rule", the ancient Jewish maxim that said: "Do not do to others what you don't want them doing to you." But this is not love! Enemies can follow the Silver Rule; it takes love to follow the Golden Rule: "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated."
Sometimes we think the Golden Rule goes like this: "Treat others the way you want them to treat you, in order to convince them to treat you the same way." But this is not love. This is bribery.
Love is: "I'll do a good deed for this jerk who's irritating me, regardless of how he treats me back, because I care about him more than he deserves."
Love is: "Why am I arguing with this guy? The way I'd like to be treated is for him to stop fighting with me, so that's how I'll treat him. He's not accepting my pearls of wisdom anyway, so I'll become quiet."
Love is: "I'm not getting as much love and attention and concern from my spouse (or adult child or friend or ---) as I should, but God gives me all that I need, so I'll give away the love that I wish I was getting and be satisfied with God alone."
If we live by the Golden Rule, we walk in the footsteps of Christ who leads us all the way to the Golden Gate of heaven.
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
To sign up for your own subscription, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections

Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...
Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - American Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Change your address
Unsubscribe