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Greetings, Everyone!
Located on the third floor of the United Nations conference building in New York is a stunningly beautiful work of art that captures humanity's yearning for peace and unity-- The Golden Rule Mosaic. Constructed of 23,000 pieces of Murano glass and based on a visionary painting by Norman Rockwell, the mosaic portrays people of every color, creed, and ethnicity as one humanity, praying together; inscribed in gold letters at the bottom of the piece are the words, "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU."
Nancy Reagan presented the mosaic to the United Nations on October 21st, 1985, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its founding. The mosaic, given on behalf of the people of the United States, represents the United Nation's core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity; it also reflects the UN's commitment to maintaining international peace and security, protecting Human Rights, delivering humanitarian aid, supporting sustainable development and climate action, and upholding international law.
Speaking for all Americans, Mrs. Reagan said that the depiction of a united humanity offered an example "the nations of the world can take heart in and work towards." The gift itself also reflected not only the aspirations of the United Nations but also America's whole-hearted support of these aspirations and of the UN Charter.
Forty years later, as I revisit the Preamble to the Charter, I find myself wondering how the American Dream can be pieced together again. The mosaic itself was restored and re-dedicated in 2014; sadly, the values it represents seem to have disappeared with the cracks...
Many Blessings,
Elizabeth
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SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Link to Sunday Readings
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who are listening, I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, and pray for those who
mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other cheek as well, and if someone takes
your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and if someone takes what belongs to you,
do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Lk 6:27-38
Foundational to all the world's religions, The Golden Rule provides a universal guide on how to treat others, live well, and create a culture of peace. The principle is a simple one: if we treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, we would do no harm. Though the various religions may express this differently, the underlying message is the same. For Buddhists, for example, the words “Hurt not others with that which pains yourself” can be found in The Udānavarga (5:18), while Islam holds up this caution: “The Prophet Muhammad said, ‘None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself'" (Hadith 13). For the Yoruba people of West Africa, there are multiple proverbs reflecting The Golden Rule, including this one: "Someone going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts." And in Wiccan tradition, this principle prevails: "An it harm none, do what ye will."
The Golden Rule is both an incentive and a deterrent. By imagining ourselves in the situation of another being, we immediately know how we would want to be treated or not treated. Such knowledge is "golden" because it brings out the best in us, appealing to our mercy, compassion, and forgiveness; it creates the "holy pause" that allows us to see with God's eyes and feel with God's heart instead of seeking revenge, shaming another or acting with indifference. And Jesus is clear that he expects his followers
to respond to everyone from the vantage point of this rule -- including our enemies.
But who are our enemies? For nations at war, "the enemy," of course, would be members of "the other side" who are out to destroy their culture and way of life. While defending the homeland is the right and responsibility of every sovereign state, mistreating prisoners of war violates the mandate to love our enemies. Just as David refrains from killing Saul with his own spear, so combatants must exercise restraint if they are to preserve their humanity and show mercy.
But not every "enemy" exists in a war zone. Many of us have a long list of individuals who have cheated us, robbed us, defamed us, undermined our authority, sabotaged our efforts, betrayed us, bullied us, manipulated us, or harmed us in ways too numerous to name. Again, Jesus says that these "enemies" belong on our prayer list! This does not mean deliberately putting ourselves in harm's way, or enduring abuse, or putting up with injustice, but it does involve letting go of the desire for vengeance, or wishing harm upon another, or engaging in hateful behaviors.
Ultimately, when we hate others or treat them with disrespect or cruelty, we are hating ourselves. Whenever an individual or a society loses sight of the humanity of its "enemies" (real or imagined), then toxicity seeps in, gradually poisoning all who have lost the capacity to love. Soul-sick, such individuals and societies live by another rule: "Do unto others the opposite of what you would want done unto you." There is no gold in this rule, nor any antidote for soul-sickness except learning to love.
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