Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Emil Lim SVD – Saint Jude Catholic School, Manila
Tuesday 11th Week in Ordinary Time
Whoever speaks about being a perfect person nowadays is either delusional or outright lying! Our usual excuse when we err is, “Tao lang!” I am only human; only God is perfect. And so we allow ourselves to take it easy, to compromise, relativize, and settle in mediocrity.
Yet I demand absolute service, flawless performance, accurate execution, 100% return! Perfection for everything and everyone except me! Sunshine for me and rain for the rest of humanity. Well, “tao lang.”
But Jesus commands: “Be perfect!” He did not expect it from life or the world; Jesus wants it from you and me. We are the heavenly Father’s children, so let’s act accordingly.
It is uncommon to love your enemies and be magnanimous to those who have been rude to you. For those who have done it, though, it is a triumph of human excellence and even heroism. It is the higher moral ground, admirable maturity, more like the image of an ideal person, and closer to the qualities of God.
When Abraham Lincoln became America’s president, he was asked, “Now that you are in power, would you not destroy your enemies?” “Of course, I will,” said Lincoln. “And how do you plan to do that?” his aide continued. Lincoln answered, “By making them my friends.”
Come to think of it, who wants to make enemies? Is life easier, healthier, and more pleasurable when we play ‘an eye for an eye’ with an enemy? The more enemies the merrier? Jesus actually makes more sense!
We might not be perfect, but let us at least strive towards excellence in work, in our skills, and in human relationships. Christianity, after all, is supposed to lead us towards human excellence, the ultimate goal of which is perfection.
