Maturity

Homily for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

The last word in today’s Gospel text is “perfect.” St. Matthew writes that as God is perfect, our vocation is to be perfect as well. Perfection is something for which we can strive, but most of us know that it is unattainable. Or is it?

What does the word “perfect” mean in this text. St. Matthew uses the Greek word “teleosis,” which when translated into English more accurately means “complete” or “whole.” In his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes about perfection. Various translations will use the word “mature” or “full-grown” or “the measure of the fullness” in translating the word “teleosis.” Maturity or fullness or being full-grown is not unattainable. Consequently, if we listen to St. Matthew’s admonition with this in mind, it becomes less daunting.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke, he ends this particular admonition of Jesus by saying “be merciful as God is merciful.” This too is not unattainable. We can become merciful people. When it comes to loving our enemies, mercy is an absolutely necessary commodity.

We are given every opportunity for the grace of perfection or maturity in our Communion, in receiving God himself in the Eucharist. This grace is most effective when we receive him with attention, love, and devotion. A disposition of humility and gratitude opens our hearts to the movement of the spirit and the supernatural effect of God’s gift. This, in turn, helps us to go from here and do what we are asked of by God. Whenever we eat this heavenly banquet, we are given the grace to act more like God. We are given the grace to become perfect.