Today’s gospel is one of my favorites.  I enjoy readings that are applicable to every day life.  The Sermon on the Mount is full of lessons that teach us how to live a faith filled, moral, and ultimately joy-filled life. 

Today’s lesson is one of persistence. This notion is double edge sword for this stubborn German girl.  You see, if I am passionate about something, or really want something I set my mind to it and it’s difficult to stop me from achieving whatever it is that I’m working toward.  This can be a valuable quality— at least, this is what I’ve heard from my employers, patients and dear friends and family.  I am a fierce advocate!  The problem is that I lack patience.  I often pray for patience.  When I’m working on a project in my job as a nurse, caring for a patient with a complex situation or helping a friend or family member with something I often pray that the resolution come quickly.  It’s really difficult for me when it doesn’t, this is when my inborn stubbornness or persistence comes in.  Jesus is telling us in today’s gospel to remain faithful and be persistent when we have a need.  As I quietly reflect on today’s reading, I’m reminded of several occasions when Jesus’ plan actually ended up being better than my timetable. Ask and ask often.

The final lesson today is known as the Golden Rule. “"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” 

There is so much division, anger and unrest all over our world.  I truly believe most of this could be resolved if we could take a collective deep breath and get back to the basics.  Living as Jesus teaches us seems like the balm that is needed to heal the division, anger and unrest that too many are impacted by.

Consider the following as you continue your Lenten journey:

• Think of something you prayed about repeatedly for a very long time. When your prayer was answered, had you changed from the time you started to pray to the time your prayer was answered?
• Find some quiet time to think about how you like to be treated and consider the ways you treat others. Do the lists look similar or different?

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”