Whole or Complete

Homily for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

In English grammar, the tense of the verb is an all-important consideration when we are trying to accurately describe when an action will take place. For instance, if we use the past tense, we are indicating that an action has taken place earlier; however, if we use the past perfect tense, we are indicating that an action has not only taken place earlier, the action is complete or whole. This is the meaning of the word “perfect” in English grammar, but it is also the meaning of the word “perfect” in today’s Gospel text when St. Matthew asks us to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” All too often, we read this passage and come to the conclusion that Jesus is asking the impossible. We know that no matter how hard we try, we will never be perfect in the sense that we will always have flaws. However, in this instance, the word perfect is asking us to be whole, complete, or mature. If we read the text with that in mind, we suddenly recognize that Jesus is not asking the impossible.

Newer translations of the Scriptures have used the word “mature” rather than the word “perfect” when this particular admonition from the Sermon on the Mount is cited. Interestingly enough, in the Gospel of Saint Luke, Jesus tells his disciples that they should be merciful as their Heavenly Father is merciful. In the Old Testament we find the admonition “Be holy for I am holy” repeated five times in Leviticus. Notice the use of the word “for” or “because” rather than “as.” In the First Letter of St. Peter, this Old Testament quotation is repeated.

I’m sure that all of us realize that we will never be as holy as God is holy, never be as perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect, nor will be ever be as merciful as God is merciful. However, such admonitions would not occur so regularly if they were meaningless. What exactly is being asked of us? How are we to become holy? There are four things that we must keep in mind if we are to even come close to this kind of holiness.

1. First, we must put our hope completely in the Lord Jesus, to trust in the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ by faith. If we are closely united to Jesus, his righteousness will be seen in us.
2. Second, personal holiness can only be attained if we contemplate, consider, and meditate upon the glorious holiness of God. In other words, the burning bright holiness of God should compel us to pursue holiness with all our hearts.
3. Third, we must remember that we are children of God. In the First Letter of St. Peter we read, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” Notice that he calls us to act “as obedient children.” In other words, our obedience is to flow out of the fact that in Christ we have a new identity. We are no longer enemies of God. Rather, we are beloved children of our heavenly Father.
4. Finally, there comes a point in our pursuit of holiness when we simply must put our sin to death. Yes, we must embrace the righteousness of Christ, meditate upon the holiness of God, and remember that we are children of God. Those are the first steps. But in addition to all these things, we must actively seek to eliminate sin.

As children, we were constantly told to “say our prayers.” As adults, we must come to the realization that simply saying our prayers is never going to lead us to holiness. We will only be successful in this quest for holiness by staying close to Jesus through the sacraments and by setting aside time to contemplate and meditate upon what it means to be a whole, complete, and mature child of God.