Thursday, March 2, 2017

THE IMPERFECT PERFECTION


THE IMPERFECT PERFECTION

Reflection for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Lev 19:1-2.17-18, Ps 103, I Cor 3:16-23, Mt 5:38-48

From the first reading, God gives the Israelites this unusual command: “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.” This holiness consists in loving others, in not bearing grudges, nor taking vengeance, i.e. forgiveness. In the Gospel Jesus deepens this rule of life by adding, “But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…give to him who begs from you…” Further he said, “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven…” God showers His generosity both on the evil and the good. In conclusion, Jesus said, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

These instructions take us aback since deep within we are confronted with so much imperfection. Like Mary at the Visitation, the readings today impel us to ask; How can this be possible?

God is holy in Himself. Holiness is intrinsic to His nature. But He communicates this holiness to us. Hence, we can be holy by reason of our relationship with God as our Father. In other words, God is the reason for our perfection. He is the source and summit of every act of perfection. Our righteous deeds are, therefore, modelled after God Himself. They become concrete expressions of our being re-born as children of God.

If our acts of charity, forgiveness, patience, etc are drawn from God and, in turn, have God as their target, then it is possible to perform them to all despite the disposition of our hearts towards the persons involved. One thing that is necessary is to ensure that our charitable hearts are primarily disposed towards God above all else. To be perfect as God is perfect equally implies that we cannot be perfect outside of God. And any perfection we achieve can only stand if we remain in God. That means our perfection must be open for more. In other words, it is an imperfect perfection!

That is why, in the sound of silence, we enter into the heart as in a temple. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God dwells in you?” says St Paul in the second reading. Thus, the human heart becomes the ‘home of holiness’ because God, who alone is Holy, dwells there. Though our acts of perfection is expressed through others, it actually resides in the heart. This is where it begins. And how we begin is by allowing the Spirit of God to dwell in our hearts. 

 

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

All Saints Catholic Church,

Agip Estate, Port Harcourt.

19/02/2017

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