Monday, April 14, 2008


SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #189

"All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets." (Matt. 7:12)

THE QUALITIES OF CHARITY: God being so good and merciful to us, we ought to be full of love and indulgence towards our fellow-men. Since we ought to love our neighbor as we do ourselves, the whole law of brotherly love is summed up in this maxim: "All that you would that men should do to you, do ye also to them," or, to reverse it: All that you do not want men to do to you, be careful not to do to them. Therefore our brotherly love must be:

a) sincere. We are to wish our neighbor, in our hearts, quite as much good as we wish ourselves. Further, our love must be

b) practical. We must do good to our neighbor according to our means: "Give, and it shall be given unto you." Finally, our love must be

c) universal. We must not exclude from our love either our enemies or those who have injured us, but must forgive them from our hearts. "Forgive, and you shall be forgiven."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

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