Be Perfect

Gospel: Matthew 5: 43-48

We have many ideas of what it means to be perfect.  For some it is bodily and physical health, while for others it is academic and intellectual perfection in school achievement.  Some see it in athletic excellence, job performance, while still others see it as living a blameless life.  None of these things are achievable.  Our bodies will decline and perish.  We will make mistakes in school, on the athletic field, at work, and we have and will commit sins for which we must atone.  

When Jesus speaks of being perfect it is in reference to our love.  It is an easy thing to love ourselves and pursue our own self-interest.  It is not so difficult to extend this love to those we like in our family and friends as they are agreeable to us.  It is harder to generate love for a stranger or someone unknown to us.  And it is exceedingly difficult to love one we regard as an enemy.  But Jesus says if we wish to be perfect like God, then we must love the stranger and enemy.  

This love is never an abstract concept, something we have only in our hearts and minds.  This love must extend to concrete actions.  Hence, to welcome the stranger and care for them, to provide food, drink, shelter, and clothing for anyone in need, to visit the sick and those in prison regardless of who they are - this is how we love our enemy.  A Christianity that preaches capital punishment, constant warfare, animus to immigrants, refugees, and the poor - this is what is heresy and abomination.