Gen. 18:1-10a; Ps. 15:2-5; Col. 1:24-28; Lk. 10:38-42
“He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord” having been perfect in Christ. Abraham is perfect in Christ in his justice and generosity to the “’three men” being a servant to their needs. He is rewarded with the promise of a son with his wife Sarah. Martha likewise is being a servant to Christ without a just heart as she complains to Jesus about her sister Mary. Abraham makes an offering of his resources while Martha makes a complaint of her service. Mary however makes an offering of her heart “the better part and it will not be taken from her”. Every day we are called to be of service to our family, friends, work, neighbor and even to a stranger and justice is served when it comes from the heart. The unjust find fault and complain “why me” instead of “why not me”.
St. Paul rejoices in his suffering because he makes of an offering of it to serve “what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ”. What could possibly be lacking in Christ who is God with us? What is lacking is this unity of our suffering with his for our sins and those of the whole world. What is lacking is our response to his sacrificial love in meeting the first and greatest commandment. The love of God with all our heart, mind and soul is lacking when we remain attached to an attitude of “me first”, far from being perfect in Christ. What is lacking is our desire to be one with Christ because it requires our surrender to his will not ours to be perfect in Christ.
Perfection is both an act and a process. The perfect act of perfection is Godly love. Christ’s perfect act of perfection was his surrender to the cross for the salvation of souls. Each day we are given an opportunity to make an act of perfection in our charity, suffering, offering of ourselves and worship of our God. Be perfect as God is perfect is one act of perfection at a time It is how we respond to the test of life with the right attitude of mind, right love of heart, and right desire of will.
Perfection is also a process that requires perseverance, patience, humility and desire. Too often the human condition falls into the trap of justifying oneself by rationalizing “I am not perfect”. I can only imagine God responding with “And what are you doing about it?” This should not be an excuse for our state of life but a realization of what separates us from God. It should lead us to an examination of conscience for what needs to change in our lives. To recognize our imperfection is the first step towards spiritual growth. In supplication we are to seek God’s grace to be made perfect in Christ. The process comes through our daily life as God sends us his messengers like he sent Abraham those three angels as men.
Perfection is also an act of justice. Jesus death on the cross was the justice paid in atonement for the sins of the world. Purgatory is the Lord’s justice in atonement for the sins we have committed to be made perfect in Christ. Many assume that Christ’s death on the cross for our sins implies a direct path to heaven for us but the imperfect soul must be cleansed for only the perfect can see the face of God and live. We are reminded of this in the book of Wisdom “as gold in the furnace he proved them” (Wis. 3: 1:6). The fire of purification brings us to be perfect in Christ. Justice is perfect love and I for one remain in the process of seeking that perfect love.
Abraham provides for a meal to the three men who arrive and Martha is busy about preparing a meal for Jesus, both indicative of the perfect meal to come through Jesus. The perfect meal began with the last supper and culminated with the final cup to drink on the cross. Jesus is the perfect meal that bring us closer to his perfect love. Today we celebrate that perfect meal in the Eucharist that we may be made perfect in Christ.
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