This is the law and the prophets

THURSDAY 5 MARCH (Mt 7,7-12)

The Word of the Lord is eternal truth. If man sows evil, he will collect evil. Instead, if he sows the good, he will collect the good. If he gives his forgiveness, he will receive forgiveness from the Lord. If he hates and holds a grudge, he will remain with his sins: “He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off; In your presence he uses honeyed talk, and admires your every word, But later he changes his tone and twists your words to your ruin. There is nothing that I hate so much, and the Lord hates him as well. As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one. As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it, Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him. Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die; Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?

Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults” (Sir 27,22-28,7). How does Jesus fulfill his Father’s Word? Placing man as a measure of good. Every man knows what is good for his life. This same good he will have to do to every other man. A large measure he uses for himself, a large measure he must use for others. Since everyone knows the good for himself, he must want this same good for others. He wants it, doing it and realizing it. This Law is universal, it applies to every man. According to this law we will also be judged on the last day. What Saint Paul teaches is worthy of faith: “Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God” (Rm 2,1-11). Since everyone wants a favorable judgment for himself, he must always have a good word, of mercy, for everyone else.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If 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. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

Who gives, can ask. Who opens, can knock. Those who let himself be found can search. If our heart is hermetically closed to others, the heart of the Father will also be closed for us. If we give good things to others, the Lord will give us excellent things. We are the measure of God’s love for us. To those who give largely, it will largely be given.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, arrange that we do not give with stinginess, but with a large measure.