Sunday’s Readings: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Or 12:12-14, 27; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
……from your Pastor’s Desk
Here is The Golden Rule as it is written in eight religions:
Baha’i: Blessed are those who prefer others before themselves.
Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
Christianity: In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Islam: No one is a believer until you desire for another that which you desire for yourself.
Janism: In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, regard all creatures as you would your own self.
Judasim: What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. That is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary. Go and learn.
Sikhism: Be not estranged from one another for God dwells in every heart.
Zoroastrianism: Human nature is good only when it does not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self.
So, I offer you a practical application of the ‘Golden Rule’.
Here is today’s version:
If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it up.
If you break it, admit it.
If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you value it, take care of it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If you move it, put it back.
If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.
If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.
If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.
Is this an over-simplification? Of course it is.
But…imagine if everyone in your household followed what you just read.
Or all your friends, or everyone at school or work.
What a different place our world would be.
For that matter – what a different place our world CAN be!
It’s worth a try – isn’t it?
Father Ron
