Perfectionist

It may seem illogical, but perfectionism is generally seen as a bad thing.

Perfectionists are seen as neurotic, anxious people who drive themselves (and everybody else) crazy: pushing to meet an impossibly high standard.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:43-48), our Lord seems to want us all to be perfectionists.

So be perfect,
just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Talk about a high standard!

The perfectionism to which Christ calls us, of course, is very different from the perfectionism of man.

To begin with, the focus of Christian perfectionism is to do what is good more and more fully. To be sure, we are also to avoid doing what is wrong, but if we keep our primary focus on doing more and more of what is good, it becomes easier to move away from things that are wrong.

The biggest difference, however, between the perfectionism of man and the perfectionism of God is grace.

God is not an unrelenting, impossible-to-please coach who shouts at us from the sidelines.

God is right there with us on the road to perfection: helping us with his grace and showering us with his love. We may stumble and we may even slip backwards, but God is always there for us: forgiving us our faults, calling us to perfection and helping us every step of the way.

By his grace and with his love, we can keep moving forward.

So be perfect,
just as your heavenly Father is perfect.