This week's readings Week of Dec. 15 - 21 Sunday, December 15, 2002 Reading I: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11 Reading II: 1 Thes 5:16-24 Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Monday, December 16, 2002 Reading I: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a Gospel: Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday, December 17, 2002 Reading I: Gn 49:2, 8-10 Gospel: Mt 1:1-17 Wednesday, December 18, 2002 Reading I: Jer 23:5-8 Gospel: Mt 1:18-25 Thursday, December 19, 2002 Reading I: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a Gospel: Lk 1:5-25 Friday, December 20, 2002 Reading I: Is 7:10-14 Gospel: Lk 1:26-38 Saturday, December 21, 2002 Reading I: Sgs 2:8-14 Gospel: Lk 1:39-45 Pope's Prayer Intentions December General Intention Protection of children from all violence: That children around the world may be protected and defended by their families and by adequate social policies against all violence. December Mission Intention That Christmas may stir up love for those who count for little in the world: That remembering the Savior's birth may help people develop an ever-greater respect for the little ones and those the world does not count.

Refrain from evil:
Retain what is good

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

The Golden Rule, which we learned as children, is virtually universal in the religions of the world and can be stated many ways - love others as you love yourself, do to others as you would have them do to you, etc. - but they all boil down to "treat others as you want to be treated."

The Golden Rule has far-reaching implications for human behavior. Reflecting on how we want to be treated, if we are truly honest with ourselves, will show the areas of our life which are out of order, areas where we mistreat others in ways we would not want to be mistreated.

"Retaining what is good, refining it in our lives, and teaching it to others is all part of our baptismal call -- whether John's call to make the highway straight for God, or to repent and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ."

As Christians, we believe that our baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ and frees us from the stain of original sin, but not from its effects. If the effects of original sin were also removed, we would not need a Golden Rule. One of the effects of original sin is an inclination to sin. Another is that we will all die.

"Treat others as you want to be treated" or "Love your neighbor as yourself." By our baptism we profess to believe this. John the Baptist came, the Gospel says, to testify to the light, who is Jesus. John is not the light, but he is the forerunner, the one who testifies to the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. John baptized with water, but the One coming after him will emblazon his Gospel of love upon our hearts, and in our very souls.

Readings for Third Sunday of Advent (Dec. 15, 2002) Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28

John says more about who he himself is not than about who he is. Not the Christ. Not Elijah. Not the Prophet. No, John is that voice "crying out in the desert, 'make straight the way of the Lord.'" We make straight the Lord's way in our lives by removing obstacles, by a process of conversion, by asking forgiveness for our sins.

Saint Paul counsels us on a way to identify those areas of our life where the Golden Rule is not operating, those areas where the highway for our God is still crooked, where obstacles lie in the road. He gives solid advice on moving forward: "Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! Test everything! Refrain from evil! Retain what is good!"

If we do these things, we will be making a straight highway for God in our lives. Paul tells us to test everything - to study, seek advice, talk to those who are holy, listen to the voice of the Spirit, pray always - as we work to reject what is evil in our lives and as we try to discern and retain what is good.

That Golden Rule is a kind of shorthand for that law of love which Jesus teaches. The One upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests, the One who comes to free us from sin, the One who announces a year of favor from the Lord - he is Jesus. Sin has no place in him, not even original sin. He is pure light, the light of God which purifies and burns out sin. By his own blood on the Cross he shows the ultimate expression of the Golden Rule, to treat others with love.

As we exercise the Golden Rule in our lives, we will do well to refrain from all that is evil in our dealings with God, with one another, and with ourselves. Retaining what is good, refining it in our lives, and teaching it to others is all part of our baptismal call - whether John's call to make the highway straight for God, or to repent and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.