Dear Friend,

Last Sunday we meditated on the “Cost of Heaven,” as a journey that entails the practice of self-denial, growth in obedience, and seeking reconciliation. How perfect it is that on this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, we arrive at the heart of the Gospel as Jesus invites us with those final words of today’s Gospel: “So, be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The question remains what does it mean to be perfect as the Father is perfect?” I would like to suggest that to be perfect as the Father is perfect is to be holy as He is holy, and to be merciful as He is merciful.
 

By giving us the Father as the standard of how to be perfect, Jesus reminds us of the true meaning of perfection. The word perfect has its roots from the Greek word, telos, which means end. The Father is not only the Alpha (the Beginning), He is also the Omega (the End). He is the end to which all things lead. He is the End to Whom we aspire. To be perfect as the Father is perfect therefore frees us from competition, and His standard remains a source of inspiration and aspiration, as we keep striving towards Him. It is like me meeting a professional ping pong player for the first time. After the first game, I humbly acknowledged, “I can’t compete with you; please train me now!” The Father trains us to be perfect in holiness and mercy.

To be Perfect is to be Holy

Through His servant Moses, the Lord reminds us: “Be Holy for I am Holy.” The word holy comes from the Greek word, “Haggios,” which essentially means “separated.” One of the Holy Week songs uses this word: “Haggios O Theos, Holy God. Haggios athanatos eleison imas (Holy Immortal God, have mercy on us). To be separated in this sense does not mean to despise others like the Pharisees but to recognize our separation from the world for God: We are in the world but not of the world. Our standard is not worldly standards, but Jesus’ standards. One of the standards that the world cannot compete with a disciple of Christ is our mission to love all even our enemies: “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.” Jesus then goes on to explain what that does: “that you may be children of your heavenly Father.” To be holy as the Father is to seek wholeness: first in ourselves by striving for integrity of life; second, by loving all without putting a limit to our love. This is how we truly stand out. Our mercy like our love is boundless.

The statement to be perfect as the Father is perfect is a conclusion to Jesus’ previous invitations especially when He challenges us to let our mercy extend to all just as the Father’s sun rise on the bad and the good… “for if you love those who love you what recompense will you have?” The word mercy comes from two Latin words: miser (misery) and cordia (heart), which literally means: the heart moving toward the miserable. A merciful heart is the heart of the Good Samaritan that does not make distinctions of who is suffering but stops by and helps. It is the heart of the Father that welcomes the prodigal son. It is the heart of any of us that willingly desires to help another first simply because it is right and good thing to do for them. It glorifies God’s image in them. It makes God’s work to be promoted. In being merciful we literally become Jesus’ hands and feet as we extend the Father’s love to His children. 

 

In Memory of you:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

You called us to action by saying, “Do this in memory of me,’

For all that you do is good.

As I love my neighbor, I do this in memory of you.

As I clothe the poor, I do this in memory of you.

As I feed the hungry, I do this in memory of you.

As I care for the sick, I do this in memory of you.

As I speak your word to others, I do this in memory of you.

As I share my blessings, I do this in memory of you.

As I consume you, I do this in memory of you.

For all that you do is good.

For all that you do, I too am called to do.

For when I do all your works I imitate you,

I rejoice in you and not myself or any other.

I humbly do this in memory of you, for you and in you.

Amen!