Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
“The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil. Nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in order to qualify for the hope of a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love.
His actions are not motivated by desire for personal benefit, so he does not have personal advantage as his aim. But as soon as he has realized the beauty of doing good, he does it with all his energies and in all that he does.
He is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a human or divine reward. The rule of life for a perfect person is to be the image and likeness of God.”
Clement of Alexandria in Miscellaneous Studies, 4.22.135ff (Stählin II, p. 308) in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World, ed. by Thomas Spidlik (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1994) 158.
When people hear the word ‘perfect’ they often think it means without sin. In the biblical sense it refers to something that is ‘mature’ or ‘rightly aligned’ with God’s design and desires for us.
Clement shows us the perfect way: do good through love. Each time I have taught on this trip, either solo or with fellow instructors, I have prayed for God to fill us with the Spirit and love. Any fruits flow from that!
Love is the one thing Christ wants us to be known for and the only thing that can overcome the evil and corruption in this world. This is timely inspiration for each of us on the Lenten journey.
On retreat today we will reflect on God’s love for us and for this region. A dear friend and Abiathar to me, Rich Haynie, is also praying Isaiah 11:2-4 over us as we retreat with the Lord. God be with us. God be with you.