Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 79

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy....
"You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."

The Church today wisely juxtaposes a difficult passage from Saint Matthew -- " Be perfect!" -- with its referent passage from the Book of Leviticus -- "Be holy!" We do well to receive them as invitations rather than impossible challenges, and to study what they might mean. 

Only the youngest and most foolish would suppose they should try to be holy or perfect. A pitcher might try to throw a perfect, no-hit game; and sometimes succeed. Many proficient bowlers have scored a perfect three hundred, and even duffers can hit a hole-in-one on a par three when the wind is right and all their bad habits balance one another for once in their life. But there are no perfect pitchers, bowlers, or golfers. 

Nor does Jesus say we should try to be perfect. His command is not that complicated. Rather than trying, we should simply be perfect -- meaning holy -- as your heavenly father is perfect. 

When someone says they'll try to quit smoking you know they won't quit. They never said they would. People who quit trying to quit smoking, quit smoking. As the Buddhists say, "Quit trying. Quit trying not to try. Quit quitting." When you understand that, you're ready to get started. 

The Lord knows the commands he gives from the mountaintop cannot be obeyed without the Holy Spirit. As a man with no lungs cannot breathe, a Christian without the Holy Spirit can neither pray nor do works of charity, much less be perfect. Some might think they're doing it, or have done it; but they don’t know what it means. 

The way of perfection is a road leading into the infinity of God's goodness. There may be resting points but there is no end, nor do pilgrims on that road expect one. They are happy to walk in it. It is often difficult, usually challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. And yet we stagger on. Pilgrims have only the support of God and the Church. And the supportive system of saints and angels. We walk by faith and not by sight. 

Nor do we measure our progress. Only God is the judge. It helps to acknowledge our sinful past but there is little profit in dwelling upon it. We repent, atone, and move on. 

A recent essay about the 1619 Project in the Washington Post by Brian Broome offered excellent advice for those willing to receive the Holy Spirit and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. As Mr. Broome learned of slavery in the United States, he marveled at the men and women, his ancestors, who survived the brutal past. He felt great pride in being their descendant. The Project was not about white shame; it's about American courage! 

We can take pride in the stories as we honor our African-American ancestors. Everyone can celebrate Black History Month and everyone can sing, "Lift every voice and sing!" 

Likewise, when the Lord commands us to "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" he is not shaming us. We're not supposed to grovel and mumble and make excuses and apologize for our sinful past. This command is not about us. It's about the good God who is perfectly generous, compassionate, understanding, forgiving, and merciful. It’s about the Father who has never deserted us, and never will, who invites us to be holy like our brother Jesus, his mother Mary, and all the saints.