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Divine love in our hearts

Arnold Biago SVD

060612-N-3714J-085 Tawi Tawi, Philippines (June 12, 2006) - Navy Hospital Corpsman Vicente Mendes, of Brooklyn, N.Y., prepares a patient for an IV before having surgery aboard the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) Hospital Ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), while the ship visits the city on a scheduled humanitarian mission. The Mercy has already visited Zamboanga and Jolo, Philippines, where its crew had treated several thousand patients. The ship will bring patients aboard where its doctors will perform major surgeries to remove goiters and cataracts as well as repair cleft lips. Ashore, teams of doctors, nurses and corpsmen spend their time providing aid to patients not requiring treatment aboard the ship. Mercy's medical staff will provide a multitude of medical, dental and veterinary care for pets of the people who live in this region, together with their Filipino counterparts, both at local city medical centers and on the ship itself. Mercy is on a five-month deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Erika N. Jones (RELEASED)

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The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Carlos Lariosa SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City

Thursday 1st Week of Lent

Every religion seems to have the Golden Rule embedded in its teachings: “Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.” But in Christ, this rule takes on a positive and dynamic outlook: “Do unto others whatever you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). It is no longer just about avoiding harm; it is about actively creating good, building a better world through love and compassion.

In 2005, during the landslides and flash floods in Quezon Province, many lives were lost. Fr. “Cha” Colendres, a priest of the Prelature of Infanta, rushed to the scene. Seeing people floating helplessly in the flood, he tied himself to a post with a rope so he could rescue them. He saved many lives, but in the process, he lost his own when the post was struck by a log and swept away.

Fr. Cha’s sacrifice embodies the Golden Rule in its most radical form: taking the initiative to do good, even at the cost of one’s life. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

The Golden Rule challenges us not only in extraordinary moments but in daily life. To be a dynamic Christian is to carry our burdens with faith and to help others carry theirs. When we reach out to those with heavier problems, our own burdens become lighter. As Galatians 6:2 reminds us: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Even when no one is around to help us, trust in God gives us courage to continue. The Golden Rule is not just human wisdom; it is divine love planted in our hearts. And God Himself practices it first: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8).

The Golden Rule is more than a moral guideline; it is a reflection of God’s own heart. When we live it, we make His presence concrete in our relationships and dealings. It is another miracle of His love: that He teaches us to love as He loves.

“Lord, help me to live the Golden Rule each day, to see You in others, and to make Your love visible in my actions.”

Readings for Thursday 1st Week of Lent
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