The Golden Rule: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you

February 18, 2016

Thursday of the First Week in Lent

Saint of the Day:  Saint Flavian, Bishopand Martyr (+449)

Reading 1

Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25

12Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. 14She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 15for I am taking my life in my hand.

16As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you. 23Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God. “And now, come to help me, an orphan. 

24Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.

25Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

1I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2aI will worship at your holy temple 2band give thanks to your name.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

2cBecause of your kindness and your truth; 2dfor you have made great above all things 2eyour name and your promise. 3When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

7cYour right hand saves me. 8The LORD will complete what He has done for me;

your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Verse Before The Gospel Psalms 51:12a, 14a

A clean heart create for me, God;

give me back the joy of your salvation.

Gospel

Matthew 7:7-12

7Jesus said to His disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

8For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,[1] 10or a snake when he asked for a fish?

11If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

12“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.  This is the law and the prophets.”[2] 

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Notes on Readings:

[1] Matthew 7:9-10 - There is a resemblance between a stone and a round loaf of bread and between a serpent and the scaleless fish called barbut.

[2] Matthew 7:12 - See Luke 6:31. This saying, known since the eighteenth century as the "Golden Rule," is found in both positive and negative form in pagan and Jewish sources, both earlier and later than the gospel. This is the law and the prophets is an addition probably due to the evangelist.