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
