RBWords

     If we define "perfect" as having no flaws whatsoever, the task of being a Christian would be hopeless!  Unfortunately, many people do define perfection in such a way that ordinary life becomes a terrible burden.  The Greek word, telos, used by Jesus does not mean perfect in the sense that I just mentioned.  It means having a wholeness or completeness which the love of one's enemy would show!  Later on in the Gospel of Matthew, when a rich young man asks how he might gain eternal life, Jesus defines perfection as giving up all the material possessions owned by the man and following Jesus.  Both the love of enemy and the discarding of material distractions are part of "perfection" because one refers to interior integrity and the other to exterior integrity. 

      When one's conduct is consistent with one's thoughts and motives, there is an integrity and wholeness that makes for Christian "perfection."  Jesus did not call flawless persons to follow him.  The apostles are exhibit A.  Even after Pentecost, we see in Peter and Paul ordinary human failings.  When we can bring our offering to the altar and know that we have reconciled ourselves with anyone whom we might call "enemy," we know that we are on the path of "perfection."  We may wander to one side or the other of that path, but the important thing is to keep following it - to keep bringing ourselves back to it when we stray.  The path of perfection may itself be straight, but most of us follow it in a zigzag way!   AMEN