Love Completes Us
“Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”
Jesus Christ, Gospel of Matthew
To be perfect as God is perfect
means to be complete or whole as God is. We can’t be complete or whole,
however, if we are divided. I can’t be complete or whole if I am divided
against myself. I can’t be complete or whole if I am divided against others.
And I can’t be complete or whole if I am divided against my Higher Power.
If I am my own worst enemy, I
will feel empty and hopeless inside because I am divided against myself. If I
am filled with hatred or resentment toward another person, I will feel angry, anxious
and fearful because I am divided against them (and myself as well). If I am
angry with God, but too afraid to express it to God, I will feel bitter and
helpless inside because I am divided against God (and myself as well).
Even if we are not personally
divided against ourselves through self-loathing, we will still be divided
against ourselves if we are divided against another person or God. Part of us
will always want to be reconciled, while the other part of us remains bitter.
Inner-division leads to turmoil and there’s no way we can feel complete or
whole until we choose to love.
Love of self mends the divide
within us. Love of others fills-in the canyon between ourselves and those we
have been alienated from for however long. And love of God removes the wall
that has distanced us from the essence of our very souls.
So if you are longing for a sense
of wholeness, or completeness, start by practicing love—of yourself, others and
your Higher Power. You will then grow toward being perfect as your heavenly father
is perfect.
This is my fifth week of keeping a 'Mass Journal.' Today I wrote, "Strive for holiness, not perfection." Big difference. Bless you.
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