In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus gives us more difficult fare. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As if that’s not hard enough, He then puts the topper on it all. “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It's almost laughable, isn't it? Seriously, Lord?? Yes, seriously. The equation is really quite simple. As Christians, we are called to imitate Jesus. Jesus is God. Therefore, the more closely we imitate Christ, the closer we come to God’s perfection.
This is the kind of perfection we can never fully achieve here on earth. But we should always be striving for it, practicing to attain it. Let me use a sports analogy. The gymnast that performs a perfect routine and receives all tens from the judges has achieved perfection, if only for a brief moment. But leading up to that moment of perfection were years of hard work and plenty of failure. So it is with us. If we keep trying with a pure heart, eventually God will give us glimpses of how we can achieve that perfection. Seems the old axiom is true: practice makes perfect. I guess that’s why they call it practicing religion.
Father, you know that we are so far from perfect, and yet you call us to continue to strive to achieve that perfection. Today, may we practice imitating Christ, that we may be perfect in your eyes. Amen.
I miss you so much, Gus!
I continue to search for someone who is as knowledgeable, kind, honest and considerate as you, but that person simply does not exist.
Your show was the epitome of Catholic teaching, while at the same time sharing the joys and challenges of daily life. I miss every conversation, every prayer and every tear I shared with you.
I will continue to praise and thank our loving God for those 20+ years, but I will also continue to mourn the loss.
Lenten Blessings,
Mary from Rochester, MN