Reflection Date: June 23, 2026 | Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Children of God:
Long before the birth of Jesus, the Chinese philosopher Confucius already taught a version of what many people now call the Golden Rule.
He lived around five centuries before Jesus and became one of the most influential thinkers in Asian history.
Confucius emphasized respect, harmony, family values, and moral living.
One of his famous teachings said, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
This teaching encouraged people to treat others fairly and kindly.
It became a guiding principle in Chinese culture and influenced many societies across Asia.
Confucius believed that peace in society began with discipline and goodness in the individual heart.
His wisdom showed that even human reason could recognize the importance of compassion and justice.
Many religions and cultures also carried similar teachings about kindness and respect.
Yet when Jesus came, He brought the Golden Rule into a deeper and more demanding way of life rooted in love of God and neighbor.
In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus said, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12).
Christ did not merely teach people to avoid harming others.
He actively called them to do good, show mercy, and live with compassion.
Jesus also spoke about the narrow gate and the difficult road that led to life.
What can inspire us today?
First, we must treat others with the same dignity we desire for ourselves.
Jesus presented the Golden Rule in a positive and active way.
He did not simply say, “Do not hurt others.”
Instead, He challenged people to actively do what was loving and good.
That means helping, forgiving, encouraging, and understanding others.
This teaching sounds simple, but it becomes difficult in daily life.
People want respect but sometimes speak harshly to others.
People desire understanding but become impatient with family members or coworkers.
Some want forgiveness but struggle to forgive.
Jesus reminded His followers about empathy.
Before speaking, we ask: “Would I want these words spoken to me?”
Before judging, we ask: “Would I want others to judge me this way?”
The more we treat people with dignity, the more we reflect the kindness of Christ in the world.
We must treat others with the same dignity we desire for ourselves
Second, choose what is right even when it is not popular.
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate.” (Matthew 7:13).
The Lord knew that many people preferred the easier road of pride, revenge, dishonesty, and selfishness.
We experience this struggle even today.
It is easier to spread gossip than to defend someone’s reputation.
It is easier to seek revenge than to forgive.
It is easier to follow trends than to follow conscience.
The narrow road sometimes feels lonely because not everyone chooses honesty, humility, and compassion.
Yet Jesus reminded His disciples that the difficult road led to life.
The saints, martyrs, and faithful believers throughout history walked this narrow path.
They failed at times, but they kept returning to God.
Choose what is right even when it is not popular
As we reflect today, we ask ourselves: How do I want other people to treat me in moments of weakness and struggle?
Am I choosing the easier road of selfishness or the narrow road of love and integrity? In what simple ways can I practice the Golden Rule more sincerely every day?
Children of God:
The world already knows many wise teachings about kindness and goodness.
But Jesus gave those teachings a deeper heart rooted in God’s love.
The Lord challenged us not only to avoid evil but to actively choose compassion and mercy.
Yes, Jesus did not promise that our discipleship would be easy, but He promised that it would lead to true life.
So remember: every act of kindness, every act of honesty, and every act of forgiveness becomes a step toward the life that Christ promised.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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