Golden perfection

Many of us operate by the not-quite-golden rule: do unto others as others do unto you.

How we treat other people is often reflexive: an almost biological reaction to stimuli.

The true Golden Rule, of course, given by our Lord himself, is Do unto others as you would have others do unto you (Matthew 7:12).

The difference between these two perspectives is explained by our Lord in today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:43-48):

You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.

But I say to you,
love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise
on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall
on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you,
what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect,
just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

May we rise above our impulses
and may the perfection of God flow within us
and through us to everyone we meet.