So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
 

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
 
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

In teaching his student to lead people by creating growth (conversely, if you are not creating growth, you are not leading), my leadership professor introduced the concept of spirit leadership. In the context of this writing, the spirit is not a warm fuzzy feeling, an aura or a ghost hovering around a room. It is the essence of being alive. In grade school (which was affiliated with my family's church), I learned that the spirit is what transformed our clay vessels, our physical bodies, into living entities. "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7 (Amplified Bible). My professor said that through the spirit we do all things. One aspect of our spirit provides the drive and motivation to get things done. Our spirit is lifted when we hear a child laugh, we get a good grade on a test, receive a tax rebate or refund, someone pays us a compliment or we compliment someone else. Our spirit can be brought down when we hear of bad news, a loved one becomes ill, or when someone criticizes or insults us. An interesting observation is that the spirit of one individual affects the spirit of other individuals. Another person's positive spirit positively affects mine. Those with a negative spirit (or attitude) can negatively affect my spirit.

In the book, Oneness: Great Principles Shared by All Religions by Jeffery Moses, Mother Teresa opens with a short interpretation of the golden rule:

"I am sure that if we all understand The Golden Rule - that God is Love and he has created us for greater things, to love and be loved - we would then love one another as He loved each one of us. True Love is giving until it hurts. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving. Therefore, it is necessary to pray, the fruit of prayer is the deepening of Faith, the Fruit of faith is Love, Love in action is Service, and so acts of Love are acts of Peace, and this is the living of the Golden Rule."

During this season of Pentecost, think about those things that lift your spirit and which of those you experience. Think about the attributes of spirit that you admire; trust, hope, peace, enthusiasm, compassion, and love are a few that our class listed. Do those things that uplift the spirit of you and your neighbor and avoid those things that that might bring it down. This will cause each to grow by God's grace. When you create growth, one or more of these attributes are at work and you are leading. This is one of the beautiful outcomes of applying (Love in Action) the "Golden Rule".

Dear Lord,
Thank you for providing us with the tools to make a difference in this world, to love and create growth. Open my heart to opportunities for creating growth, for loving and acting in love. Help me to love everyone and act on that love with hope and compassion. In your name I pray. Amen

Contributed by Richard
Sunday May 18, 2008
Liturgical Year A Week 25
Sunday Gospel reading:
Sixth Sunday of Easter