«They call it "the Platinum Rule." We all know the greatness of the Golden Rule ("do unto others as you would have them do unto you") and from it arises what can be considered an even more universal evolution: "strive to understand what the other person would want done to them and act accordingly».

Perhaps it is precisely here that we can recognize one of the most authentic forms of love: meeting as equals, each with our strengths and weaknesses, in a relationship of reciprocity and respect, acknowledging the value and dignity of every life, even in the most difficult circumstances. It is about looking attentively at the person next to us, without ignoring them.

«"True love for one's neighbor," says Chiara Lubich, "does no harm."»[1]. In fact, if we love, we avoid all forms of evil, both towards ourselves and towards our brothers and sisters. The first step to loving our neighbor is, precisely, not to harm them. But to truly love, we need to be creative in love: Pope Francis reminded us that it is not enough to simply refrain from harming our neighbor; we must choose to do good, seizing every opportunity that arises.

We know: none of us can give what we do not have, and only by recognizing that we have all been loved at some point, can we fully unleash our gifts towards others.

So how do we live this Idea of the Month? Let's put love back at the center of our lives. Let's love others in concrete ways, with creativity and imagination, and above all, with deep listening that comes from within, from the heart. Doris, a young woman from Scotland, tells us: «On our regular visits to a homeless shelter, I enter a world very different from my own. I know that what matters isn't so much what I feel, but loving. One day, a man with a deep sadness on his face confided in me that he felt ready to end it all, that he even wanted to die. I simply listened to him, and then we shared a sandwich and a coffee. And I understood that listening and being present was already a way of showing love. When it was time for me to leave, he hugged me tightly and smiled, telling me that what we were doing was very important, not only for him, but for everyone there. I felt the incredible power of love.» Perhaps I didn't "save" him, but his gratitude filled me with joy, and that, in itself, is something very powerful».

[1] C. Lubich, Word of life, September 1993, in Words of Life/2 1991-2006) (ed. F. Ciardi), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2026, p. 77.