“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”

The following is from Dr. Matthew Minard. Dr. Mineard is a Ruthenian Catholic husband, father, professor, and translator. He teaches philosophy and theology at Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh.

Christ did not say, “Try it out.” Nor did he say, “Be some what perfect. Give it a good shot.” Nor, even, did he say,“Be moral to a human level.” No! He calls us to a divine
measure of holiness and communicates to us from the fullness that he himself has, giving us all the sap needed for living the divine life, giving us all the great strength needed in order to live this high calling: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing….

From start to finish, in all of our actions, we must press on toward the perfection which Saint Paul desired with all his heart: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own (Phil 3:12). Our morality will require us to shine with the very light of Christ’s grace, given to us by God, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor 4:6).

The Lord’s transfiguration on Mount Tabor, when the glory of his divinity shone through his face and clothes, becomes a kind of mystical image for the Christian life, one which has been held dear by many saints. In Christ we see, touch, and look upon the very Word of God. The people of Israel had to look upon Moses through a veil, for the glory of God reflected upon his face was too brightfor them (2 Cor 3:7-16; Ex 34:34-35). But working in our souls, through the activity of Christ’s redemptive and adoptive grace, we see not a reflection but rather his very likeness being fashioned within us: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).

In short, the whole of the Christian life will be one long work we undertake, animated by God’s own love. Indeed, we will undertake the task of this Christian life with God dwelling in us: If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.… For the Christian, the moral life involves God travailing within us, stamping upon us the face of Christ, illuminating us with his light, a light that remakes us so that we too may shine with the divine light.