SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Be Perfect!
The Word: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Mystery of the day: Joyful
Table of the Word: I R.: Deuteronomy 26:16 -19
Resp. Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2.4-5.7-8 (R. 1b)
Verse before the Gospel: Corinthians 6:2b
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48
Inspiration: Denotatively, the biblical understanding of being perfect does not mean that one won’t make mistake again, or making mistake does not implies that perfection is out of reach. That is why to be perfect means to make sincere effort every day to be better than yesterday. In a more concrete term, the Holy Scripture defines “perfection” as a state of completeness or absolute wholeness. That is to be free from fault, defect or shortcoming. Actually, absolute perfection can only be seen in God alone, which Evangelist Matthew explicitly states that: “God is by nature perfect.” (Matt.5:48) Perfection is the standard God requires of us and anything less displeases Him; in tandem with this, in today’s gospel pericope our Lord Jesus while addressing His disciples reminded them saying: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt.5:48). This virtue called “perfection” is achievable, for God cannot called us into a life that is not possible to attain. This call is not only relationship-based rather it entails performance-based. We therefore called to be perfect as He is perfect in our day-to-day living experience.
The journey to perfection is not automatic, it is a gradual process, bit-by-bit, and it requires continuous effort, which prompted St. Paul to say: “I do not claim I have already reached the goal, nor do I consider myself perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. No brothers, I do not claim to have reached my goal yet. I say only this, forgetting what is behind me, I race forward and run towards the goal.” (Phil. 3:12-13). We are not to be conformed to this world’s standard but to tailor our lives in the pattern of Christ our Lord; so that we may be proved good and perfect before the Lord. This Divine pattern is rooted in today’s first reading, which captures Moses addressing the people, that they should be holy to the Lord by observing His (God) statutes and ordinances. (cf. Deut. 26:16-19)
Beloved in Christ, this invitation called to mind that, the journey to perfection requires commitment and steadfastness, daily struggle and perseverance with what we are being blessed with. That is no matter who we are; what we have; space or status we find ourselves we need to make sincere effort as St. Paul says: “The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity [perfection/completeness] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Finally, as the Psalmist says, we could only be blessed if we walk in the law of the Lord; for in doing this we are making effort to be perfect as our God. Peace be with you!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“Christian perfection consists in three things: praying heroically, working heroically and suffering heroically.”
- St. Anthony Mary Claret
Let us pray
May the blessing for which we have longed for strengthen us, O God, so that, never straying from your will, we may always rejoice in your benefits. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 24022024
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