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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“You must be perfect

– just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

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– Matthew 5:48 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Strictly speaking, it is quite impossible for a created being to be as perfect as God.

What our Lord means here

is that God’s own perfection should be the model which every faithful Christian tries to follow,

even though we realise that there is an infinite distance between ourselves and our Creator.

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This, however, does not reduce the force of this commandment;

it sheds more light on it.

It is a difficult commandment to live up to,

but with the help of God’s grace

and by gladly accepting it

we can strive towards divine perfection.

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Certainly, the perfection which we should imitate

does not refer to the power and wisdom of God, which are totally beyond our scope.

Here Jesus is referring primarily to love and mercy.

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Clearly, Jesus’ call to holiness is not a recommendation

but a commandment.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, make me holy – fill me with mercy and love.

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