must be perfect

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

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

Matthew 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Paul effectively challenges the Corinthians to give by telling them how the others gave. Jesus challenges us to do more than others do. They love their own. The challenge is to love those we don't consider to be our own.

As Christians we as called to be better then the others, but all too often the others appear better than us. And there is a gospel today that says it doesn't matter, that deeds don't matter, that we just have to say we give our hearts to Jesus. Well, Jesus never said that. He calls us to be better than the others, to be perfect even as our heavenly Father is perfect.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be better than I am and to be willing to give what it takes to follow you.

Amen