11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

These may be among Jesus’ most challenging words. We know how difficult it is to love even those closest to us. So how can we even hope to love our enemies or pray for those who persecute us—let alone achieve perfection?

There is only one possible answer to that question: through God’s grace. “We won’t have the grace to do what God is not asking of us,” writes spiritual author and preacher Fr. Jacques Philippe. “But for what he is asking, he has promised his grace: God grants what he commands” (In the School of the Holy Spirit).

So if Jesus is asking us to be perfect, then it is because he stands ready and willing to give us all the grace we need. By the power of his Spirit and by the gift of the sacraments, God is always pouring out grace to help us go beyond the limitations of our fallen humanity.

However, the problem often lies in our failure to trust in God’s grace. When we hear Jesus’ words, our tendency is to double down and strive extra hard toward the goal of complete perfection. “If I can just work a little harder,” we think, “I just might get there.”

For example, you might be having trouble forgiving someone who has offended you. But just willing forgiveness doesn’t always soften an injured heart. The better answer is to cooperate with God’s grace by bringing your resentment and anger to prayer. Surrender it to the Lord when you receive Communion. Seek God’s healing grace in Confession. If you ask the Spirit to soften your heart, you’ll find it easier to forgive.

This doesn’t happen right away. It may take time before you are able to love someone who has hurt you. But as you call on the Spirit and ask him to fill you with his grace, you will find yourself doing what you never could have done on your own. Maybe you’ll begin praying for an “enemy”—or even become one of their trusted friends!

None of us will ever become truly perfect, but we can confidently rely on the overflowing grace of God to help us come as close as possible.

“Heavenly Father, help me to receive all the grace of the Holy Spirit that I need today.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-9
Psalm 146:2, 5-9
Matthew 5:43-48

WORD AMONG US