JUST AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT

1Kings 21,17-29; Ps 50; Mt 5,43-48
19 JUNE
The perfection of God in love is Christ Crucified, given to every man, for his redemption and salvation. There is no greater and more perfect love than this.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (Jn 3,14-18).

Saint Paul reveals to us that Christ was not given to us because we were holy and righteous, but he was given when we were wicked, sinners and enemies of God. The Father gave His only Son to sinners for their eternal salvation. This is his perfection.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Rm 5,1-11).

If the Father has given Jesus from the cross for our eternal redemption, might ever a disciple of Jesus, who has become true son of adoption of the Father, not imitate the Father in his love? Might ever a Christian not let himself be given by the Father for the redemption of his brothers? His vocation consists precisely in this: in letting himself be made a gift of salvation for the whole world. Now, if he is a gift of salvation, might he ever love his friends and hate his enemies? Do good to those who do him good and deny it to those who hurt him? Might he ever serve saints and hate sinners? Since God loves man even to die for him on the cross, the Christian also must love man to strip himself of everything with the end of redeeming him in Christ Jesus, by the work of the Holy Spirit.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Father is perfect in love, because he does not want anyone to be lost. He is perfect because he gave everyone his Son. Even the Christian must want nobody to be lost. He is perfect if he gives himself and what he has to God for the redemption of every man. This is his vocation: completing what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Adding what is lacking to the gift of Christ. His life is missing to the gift of Christ. He is the gift of life for salvation that makes perfect the love of the Father and also perfect the love of Christ the Lord. If the Christian does not give his life to God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, the love of the Father and even the love of Christ are imperfect.

Mother always Virgin, Angels and Saints make us true offer of salvation for the world.