Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

September 10, 2026

Many decades before Jesus’ public ministry, Rabbi Hillel the Elder famously answered an impertinent query about teaching the entire Torah while standing on one foot. He responded with this: that which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah and the rest is commentary. Now go and study.

Today we hear Luke’s version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. In verse 31 we hear these words from Jesus: Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke does not add, as Matthew does, This is the law and the prophets. Luke was writing to a Gentile audience. Nonetheless, for Jesus, the “Golden Rule” sums up everything the law and the prophets taught. One can sum up the Ten Commandments and all the teachings of the prophets standing on one foot.

(It is worth noting that all the major religions have some version of the Golden Rule. Just google Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Baha’i, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism.)

In our divided world, political leaders, so-called “influencers,” media commentators, even religious leaders (many of whom are Catholic), proclaim who among us are “enemies,” who should be excluded, who should or should not be in our beloved country. Diversity and inclusion have become evil and divisive words. Jesus reached out to everybody, especially those on the margins, “sinners,” and the ostracized.

In his first encyclical, Humanitas Magnifica, Pope Leo XIV writes: Each generation inherits the task of shaping its own era, of guiding history to become a place where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, justice is promoted, and fraternity is made possible (#1).

We each have a choice: love our “enemies,” bless those who curse us, turn the other cheek, practice the “Golden Rule” – shape our era.

Let Us Pray:

Jesus, you conquered death without weapons or violence: you shattered its power with the strength of peace. Grant us your peace, as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning, as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear. Send forth your Spirit, the breath that gives life and reconciles, that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters. (Taken from Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer for Peace, April 2026)