Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening, Psalm 49
Wisdom 4:16 to 5:8; Colossians 1:24 to 2:7; Luke 6:27 to 38:
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
This is what we call the Golden Rule. It makes so much sense. We all want a fair deal and an equal opportunity to at least apply for jobs, loans, schools and so forth. None of us want our property or identity stolen. This Luke verse simply says if you don’t like something, don’t do it to others. And if you do like something, try to do it for others.
This verse is the other side of the same coin as the Torah on one foot. From the web I found this: “There’s an old story we all learned as children about a stranger who came to the two teachers of the first century, Hillel and Shammai, with an odd request. “Teach me the Torah while I stand on one foot.”…… “So Hillel taught him: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah, all the rest is commentary. Zil u’gemar, now, go and learn it.” The entire writing can be found at; ON ONE FOOT – Valley Beth Shalom (vbs.org)
Both of these sayings are good lessons that should be followed closely. The only way to end the disrespect we show to one another is to learn empathy. We must learn to be the other as God learned to be one of us in the person of our Lord Jesus.
These are the lessons that we learn from our Lord Jesus. The Writer to the Colossians says in our Colossians’ reading for today, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6 and 7)
Saint Francis of Assisi (Friar 4 October 1226) lived his life dedicated to poverty and the dignity of others. He empathized so strongly with the respect of others. There is a prayer in the Book of Common Prayer that really fits his lesson. “A Prayer attributed to St. Francis: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.” (BCP 833)
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, South Sudan and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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