Episode 34 | Living the Golden Rule

02/20/25 • 40 min

Following Jesus, being his disciple, is not easy. It places demands upon us, upon our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. Perhaps no demand is less well understood or more difficult to follow than what we call the Golden Rule. Jesus tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated, but that’s not as simple as it sounds. Each one of us has a lifetime of experiences that shape his or her hopes, dreams, reactions, and expectations. Actions intended to be kind may be perceived as intrusive, comments meant to be funny can be regarded as cruel or thoughtless, attempts to express affection or respect may be interpreted as demeaning or condescending. So, how do we live the Golden Rule in today’s world?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Luke 6: 27-38
1st Reading – 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Psalm 103
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49

This week's readings:
Gospel – Luke 6: 27-38
1st Reading – 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Psalm 103
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49

Previous Episode

Episode 33: Truth or Consequences

As Christians, we profess that Jesus lived a human life, suffered his Passion, died on the Cross, and was raised in his Resurrection. If we have the faith to believe all of that, why can it be so difficult for us to understand that we must follow his teachings? Why do we struggle to accept that what Jesus tells us in the Gospels is the framework upon which we should build our lives? In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus offers his followers two possible outcomes for their behavior in this life and the next: blessings or curses. He offers us the same choice... what will we choose?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Luke 6: 17, 20-26
1st Reading – Jeremiah 17: 5-8
Psalm 1
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20

Next Episode

Episode 35, Part II | We Are the Church

Happy Eighth Anniversary, Saint Pius X Catholic Church! Well, it’s the eighth year in our NEW building. The parish is actually quite a bit older. We began by gathering at a humble farm just a couple of miles to the east, and have built three churches and a school. We have a rich history, built by the hard work and dedication of generation after generation of people in our local community, and deeply connected to our roots with the University of Notre Dame and the Congregation of the Holy Cross. But we are more than just the walls that protect us from the elements; we are a vibrant and faith-filled church, a collection of living stones made up of individuals, couples, and families. Every living thing must continue to learn, grow, and become better. That is the challenge before us, are we up to it?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 16: 13-19
1st Reading – 1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30
Psalm 122
2nd Reading – Ephesians 2: 19-22