In the spiritual life, there are moments when the words of Jesus strike us not just as inspirational, but as genuinely difficult. Today’s Gospel from the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time presents us with one of those moments. The command is clear: “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
At first glance, this can feel like a heavy burden. We know our own flaws, our tempers, and our tendencies to hold onto grudges. How can we possibly be perfect? However, when we look at the context of Jesus' teaching and the historical mercy shown by God in the Old Testament: specifically to the controversial King Ahab: we find that this "perfection" is not about a lack of mistakes. It is about a perfection of love that refuses to exclude anyone.
The Call to Perfection: Completeness in Love
When Jesus speaks of perfection in Matthew 5:48, he uses the Greek word teleios. In the biblical context, this doesn't mean "flawless" in the way a student gets a 100% on a test. Instead, it refers to something being complete, mature, or reaching its intended end.
A seedling is "perfect" when it becomes a fruit-bearing tree. A Christian is "perfected" when their love becomes like God’s love: unrestricted and universal. Jesus explains this by pointing to the natural world: the Father “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
Nature does not discriminate based on moral standing. The sun warms the field of the saint and the sinner alike. To be "perfect" is to move beyond the "tax collector" level of love: loving only those who love us: and to step into a divine generosity that seeks the good of everyone, regardless of their response.
Loving the “Unlovable”: The True Test of Faith
The Gospel challenges us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is perhaps the highest hurdle of the Christian life. It is easy to be kind to a friend or a supportive family member. But the light of Christ shines most brightly in the darkness of conflict.
Loving an enemy does not mean liking their behavior or ignoring injustice. Rather, it means:
- Interceding for them: Prayer is the first step in breaking the cycle of hatred.
- Wishing for their conversion: Recognizing that every person is a child of God capable of change.
- Refusing retaliation: Breaking the "eye for an eye" mentality to make room for grace.
In our modern world, where polarization is often celebrated, this call to universal love is a radical act of rebellion against the status quo. It is a commitment to seeing the "image of God" even in those who oppose us.
Mercy for the Worst: The Case of King Ahab
To see what this looks like in practice, we turn to the first reading from 1 Kings 21:17-29. King Ahab is described as one of the most wicked kings in Israel's history. Urged on by his wife Jezebel, he permitted the murder of Naboth just to seize a vineyard. He was a man who had "given himself up to doing evil."
Yet, when the prophet Elijah confronts him and announces God's judgment, something unexpected happens. Ahab humbles himself. He tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, and fasts.
Even more startling is God's response. Seeing this flicker of genuine repentance, God tells Elijah, “Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time.”
This is a powerful reminder: No one is beyond God’s reach. If God can find a path to mercy for a king as corrupt as Ahab, how can we ever give up on anyone? This historical account establishes a foundation for the mercy Jesus preaches in the Sermon on the Mount. It shows that God's justice is always looking for an opening for mercy.
The Heartbeat of the Mission: The Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA)
This theology of universal, "perfect" mercy is not just an abstract idea; it is the driving force behind the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA).
Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Bigard and her mother Stephanie, SPA was born from a desire to support the formation of indigenous clergy in mission territories. For over 130 years, this organization has operated on the belief that the Gospel takes root most effectively when it is preached by local leaders who understand the culture, the language, and the struggles of their own people.
Our missionaries and the local priests they form often work in some of the most difficult corners of the globe. They serve in areas of intense conflict, extreme poverty, or places where Christians are a tiny, often persecuted minority. In these contexts, being "perfect in mercy" isn't just a suggestion: it is a survival strategy and a primary form of evangelization.
How SPA puts "Perfection in Mercy" into action:
- Formation of Local Clergy: We provide subsidies for the daily needs and spiritual formation of seminarians, novices, and religious sisters. These local leaders become the "face of Christ" to their neighbors, even those who may be hostile to the faith.
- Sustainable Growth: By funding the construction and renovation of seminaries, we ensure that the Church is not a foreign entity but a permanent, locally-led community.
- Scholarships for Educators: We fund the education of future seminary professors, ensuring that the next generation of priests is intellectually and spiritually equipped to build bridges of peace.
- Mass Intentions: Supporting formators through Mass stipends allows them to focus entirely on the delicate task of mentoring new religious leaders.
When you support SPA, you are directly participating in the "universal love" Jesus calls us to. You are helping to train a priest in a conflict-torn region who will one day pray for his persecutors and offer the Sacraments to those who once stood as "Ahabs" in his community.
A Reflection for Your Daily Life
As we reflect on these readings today, I invite you to look inward. We all have "unlovable" people in our circles: perhaps a difficult co-worker, a family member from whom we are estranged, or even a political figure we find hard to tolerate.
Consider these questions today:
- Is there someone in your life you have "written off" as beyond change?
- Can you offer a small, sincere prayer for their well-being today?
- How can you reflect the "generous sun" of the Father in a situation where you would normally be cold?
This is the path to the "perfection" Jesus describes. It is a slow, daily process of stretching our hearts to hold just a little bit more of the Father’s mercy.
Conclusion
Jesus tells us that the Father’s love is like the rain: it falls on everyone. Today, let us strive to be that rain. Let us be people who do not ration our kindness based on who "deserves" it, but who give it freely because we have received so much ourselves.
By supporting the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, you help us bring this message of reconciliation and indigenous leadership to the ends of the earth. Your generosity allows the Church to grow from the inside out, led by those who know their people best.
“For he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good.” May we reflect that same generous sun to everyone we meet today. Thank you for helping us bring His love to the whole world!
The Pontifical Mission Societies
Society of St. Peter the Apostle
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Buffalo, NY 14220
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( Fr.) ADD