In today’s Gospel, Our Lord says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect.” -Mt 5:48. At first glance, there may be a lot of fear when reading this command. How are we to become perfect when we are constantly making the same mistakes, confessing the same sins, and coming up short?
No— this line should not bring us fear but consolation and comfort! It is impossible for us to make ourselves perfect without the help of a perfect being. So, if Christ is commanding this, it is because He is going to supply us with all the grace to do so. And how are we to respond to this grace, and let God work in us? St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of my favorite saints, has the answer. A few quotes from St. Thérèse demonstrate clearly how we are to let Christ work and become the perfect men and women God made us to be:
As St. Therese Would Say
“I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection… It is your arms, Jesus, which are the lift to carry me to heaven.”
“My way is all confidence and love.”
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”
“I am not relying on my own merits, as I have none, but I put my hope in Him who is goodness and holiness Himself.”
“We can never have too much confidence in the good God… As we hope in Him, so shall we receive.”
“Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love.”
“What matters in life… is not great deeds, but great love.”
Simple
St. Thérèse’s way to perfection is simple: do everything you can for love of God, and have total confidence in Him to make you a Saint. Pray with these quotes today and see if anyone sticks out to you that you can make a focus of your Lent! For more on St Thérèse, I highly recommend reading her autobiography, Story of a Soul!
