“Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mathew 5: 48
In the reading from Deuteronomy, Moses admonishes the People of God: Be careful then to observe the statutes and decrees of the Lord with all your heart and all your soul.
In ps. 119, a hymn of praise to the Law of God, we pray: oh that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes.
In the Gospel, Jesus, in delivering the new Law, the Sermon on the Mount, tells us to be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect. But who can be perfect or can perfectly keep the laws of God?
On our own we cannot. But, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" It is Christ who lives in us and enables us to keep the Law of God, not only "You shall love your neighbor" but also "to love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."
To keep the love of God burning in our hearts requires regular renewal through prayer and the Sacraments, especially Eucharist and Reconciliation. This is like a good friendship which requires regular visits and conversations. It is also like a marriage which requires frequent refreshing of the love between the husband and wife, and reconciliation when difficulties arise.
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