Matthew 5:43-48

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies,

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, you offer your covenant to humanity so that we can share in your divine life. You are truly blessed and offer me a share in this beatitude. I thank you for this offer and will do my best to remain in your love as I journey toward you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Perfection of Not Lacking Anything: According to Thomas Aquinas, there are three ways that something is said to be perfect. The first way something is perfect is that it doesn’t lack something it should have, meaning that it is not missing any of its parts. Imagine a car that is missing a tire or a brake pad. Without these, the car is not perfect. Likewise, if a football team lacks a quarterback, it is not perfect. And so, when Jesus invites us to be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect, we need to imitate our Father, who doesn’t lack anything he should have as God the Father. We, then, should not lack anything we should have as human beings and adopted children of God. We need and are perfected by the gift of grace and the infused virtues of faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude.

2. The Perfection of Attaining Our Ultimate End: The second way we say something is perfect is when it has accomplished its goal or attained its ultimate end. For example, when a car works well and fulfills its purpose as a means of transportation, it is said to be perfect. When a team wins the championship game, they have attained their goal and can be said to be perfect. God is perfect in this second way because he is the ultimate end of all things. The exhortation to be perfect as God is perfect invites us to consider the ultimate goal and purpose of a human being. God made us to know and love him and share in his divine life. We are perfect, then, when we attain the glory of heaven.

3. Degrees of Perfection: The third way something is perfect is where it falls on the scale of perfection. God is the most perfect, and all creatures fall short of that perfection. We are familiar with things like a “perfect game” in baseball when a pitcher doesn’t allow any hits or walks through nine innings, or qualifying a party or an event as “perfect.” We are saying that “it couldn’t be better.” A perfect season in football is when a team doesn’t lose a single game. When Jesus invites us to be perfect as his heavenly Father is perfect, he is inviting us to strive for the highest degree of perfection. In heaven, some will see God more perfectly than others. Everyone in heaven will be happy and blessed and see God, but those who loved more deeply will see God more perfectly. As St. Theresa said, in heaven, everyone’s glass will be full, but some will have a bigger glass. The invitation to imitate the Father’s perfection is, then, an invitation to love and collaborate with God’s grace and charity more fully in this life so as to enjoy heavenly perfection in the next.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your New Law is one of charity and grace. You empower us with your Holy Spirit to love as children of your Father. Because of this, the yoke you place on my shoulder is easy, and the burden you ask me to carry is light.

Living the Word of God: During this season of Lent, can I spend some time contemplating the ultimate goal of my life? How do I want to spend eternity? How can I love God and my neighbor more perfectly and deeply these upcoming weeks?