CCC 2510

 I've wasted a little time wondering what I would do if the Gestapo came to my house looking for Jews.  It's a given that I would be hiding a Jewish family.  How do I mislead the Nazis without telling a lie? It's silly; I know.  But such is the moral dilemmas I occasionally put myself through. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church ended this train of thought.  Deo Gratias.

CCC 2510

The golden rule helps one discern, in concrete situations, whether or not it would be appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.

Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.

What's Wrong with the Golden Rule?

 Supposedly, every religion has the golden rule.  The golden rule says to treat others as you would want to be treated.  Mark 12: 31-34 and Luke 6:31. The problem is, many people don't want to be treated like you want to be treated.  For example, when my husband was undergoing heart valve surgery, I requested prayers for him.  I know that I would want all the prayers I could get.  Not him, he was mortified.  He said, "It's none of anyone's business!"

So, the Golden Rule isn't absolute.  

Another way that Jesus summed up our duty as Christians is in Mark 12:30-31 where He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

But who is your neighbor?  My culture says everyone, but others think their neighbor is people in their tribe, only.  How else would you explain the hutus and tutsis?  Or Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? The wars the Native Indigenous People had with each other?

In conclusion, the Golden Rule just doesn't fit all cultures.  One rule doesn't apply to everyone.  

The Christian Paradox

A MEK Drawing

It's a kind of paradox to love the sinner but not the sin.  When I sit with my "cloistered brothers" I love them all.  Of course I don't love what they've done; I don't even want to imagine it.  I separate the two.

How?

Just as easy as telling a lie and accepting the trust in your eyes.  Just as easy as cheating on my essay and accepting the "A".  Just as easy as driving over the speed limit, yet slowing down for ducklings. Just as easy as separating myself from the person who drank a little too much last night and went to Communion in the morning.

What is the difference between those found guilty and the innocent?  Too many times it's just a matter of circumstance:

lack of money
wrong skin color
mental illness
bad neighborhood
bad parents
bad lawyer

There but for the grace of God go I.  When I hear their stories I can see parts of my own story.  I see myself.  So I treat everyone like I would like to be treated.  That means that I am a good person that sometimes does bad things.  I am not bad.  I chose wrong.  I made wrong choices.  Please don't define me by my past.  See me not my sins.

The Movement

One of my "cloistered brothers" talked my ear off, last night.  He was talking about "The Movement."
This is an initiative to change people's lives.  He was very excited about it.  So I looked into it.

The group's official name is "Pain is Skin Deep The Movement."  They want to change someone's day, which will affect the rest of their week.  Day by day will affect their life.  Maybe it will start with a smile, a kind gesture, and a kind word of welcome.  It doesn't hurt.  It doesn't take money.  It takes hardly no time at all.  Actually, just be human.  Reach out and touch someone with compassion.

Jesus tells us this in the golden rule.  Luke 6:31  Jesus summarizes the Torah, "Do to others what you want them to do to you.  Catholics know the Corporal Works of Mercy:

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtful;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead

Even Wikipedia lists all the religions that promote the Golden Rule.  Here's the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule     The founder of this initiative, James Leon Freeman III, has written a book, Pain is Skin Deep

Product Details File Size: 593 KB Print Length: 220 pages Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited Publisher: Xlibris US (February 24, 2014) Publication Date: February 24, 2014 Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. Language: English ASIN: B00IOERJXU Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Look into The Movement and change someone's day.  I bet you'll feel yourself change, too.
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