The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how we express our love through our giving generously to assist others with the time, talents, and treasure we have been given to share.
In the reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul exhorts us to Generosity in Giving
* [8:1–24] This is a letter of recommendation for Titus and two unnamed companions, written from Macedonia probably at least a year later than 1 Cor 16. The recommendation proper is prefaced by remarks about the ideals of sharing and equality within the Christian community (2 Cor 8:1–15). Phil 4:10–20 shows that Paul has reflected on his personal experience of need and relief in his relations with the community at Philippi; he now develops his reflections on the larger scale of relations between his Gentile churches and the mother church in Jerusalem.
* [8:1–5] The example of the Macedonians, a model of what ought to be happening at Corinth, provides Paul with the occasion for expounding his theology of “giving.” (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 146 praises our merciful God.
* [Psalm 146] A hymn of someone who has learned there is no other source of strength except the merciful God. Only God, not mortal human beings (Ps 146:3–4), can help vulnerable and oppressed people (Ps 146:5–9). The first of the five hymns that conclude the Psalter. (Psalms, PSALM 146 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus exhorts us to Love our Enemies.
* [5:43–48] See Lv 19:18. There is no Old Testament commandment demanding hatred of one’s enemy, but the “neighbor” of the love commandment was understood as one’s fellow countryman. Both in the Old Testament (Ps 139:19–22) and at Qumran (1QS 9:21) hatred of evil persons is assumed to be right. Jesus extends the love commandment to the enemy and the persecutor. His disciples, as children of God, must imitate the example of their Father, who grants his gifts of sun and rain to both the good and the bad.
* [5:46] Tax collectors: Jews who were engaged in the collection of indirect taxes such as tolls and customs. See note on Mk 2:14.
* [5:47] Jesus’ disciples must not be content with merely usual standards of conduct; see Mt 5:20 where the verb “surpass” (Greek perisseuō) is cognate with the unusual (perisson) of this verse.
* [5:48] Perfect: in the gospels this word occurs only in Matthew, here and in Mt 19:21. The Lucan parallel (Lk 6:36) demands that the disciples be merciful. (Matthew, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Cindy Murphy McMahon comments that Today’s gospel, Matthew 5: 43-48, is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, wherein Jesus imparts illuminating and groundbreaking ideas.
But his words in the last line of today’s gospel, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect,” have always jolted me. The mandate always seemed so unreachable that I wondered why Jesus even said it.
But I didn’t realize that Matthew used the Greek word teleois for “perfect” in this quote from Jesus, which refers to being complete or whole. To me, striving to be complete or whole in God, while not easy, is possible and is what being a Christian is all about. It’s a daily process of steps and missteps, with love for God and love for our fellow humans, even our enemies, our goal through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Murphy McMahon, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Pray for those who persecute you,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"For neither did Christ simply command to love but to pray. Do you see how many steps he has ascended and how he has set us on the very summit of virtue? Mark it, numbering from the beginning. A first step is not to begin with injustice. A second, after one has begun, is not to vindicate oneself by retaliating in kind. A third, to refuse to respond in kind to the one who is injuring us but to remain tranquil. A fourth, even to offer up one's self to suffer wrongfully. A fifth, to give up even more than the wrongdoer wishes to take. A sixth, to refuse to hate one who has wronged us. A seventh, even to love such a one. An eighth, even to do good to that one. A ninth, to entreat God himself on our enemy's behalf. Do you perceive how elevated is a Christian disposition? Hence its reward is also glorious. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 18.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 5:43-48 comments that we all know we’re imperfect human beings. Part of our challenge is with the word “perfect.” We tend to think it means being flawless in everything we say and do. But the Greek word in this passage, teleios, actually means mature or attaining the purpose for which something was created. So according to Jesus, we are perfect when we fulfill God’s purpose in creating us. Of course, even this can seem impossible at times. But like a good teacher, Jesus didn’t just issue his “impossible” commands from heaven and then step back to watch us fail. No, he entered into creation, took on our human weakness and frailty, and showed us what perfection looks like.
What “impossible” thing has been weighing on you? Is there someone you are struggling to love or to forgive? Don’t keep trying to do it by yourself! Ask Jesus, the “perfect” teacher, to soften your heart. Ask him to help you become perfect in the same way that he is—perfect in love.
“Jesus, teach me how to fulfill your call to live in love.” (Meditation on Matthew 5:43-48, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage in 2 Corinthians is part of the letter requesting a collection to take to the Church in Jerusalem. Gentile Christians are being asked to remember the poor in Judea. It is the first “Peter’s pence” to be generous to those in need. Friar Jude notes the difference between the Gospel of Matthew and the Hebrew Testament interpretation of Love. Everyone is a child of God. Evil is a symptom of brokenness that we need to help heal. Love is not a commercial relationship. We want to change hearts. Friar Jude asserts that we are not seeking perfectionism but to be as loving as God.
One of Dr. Barbara Holmes’ (1943–2024) final teachings for CAC’s Living School: Essentials of Engaged Contemplation, focused on joy as a practice and presence. She reveals how our egos keep us from experiencing true joy.
Finding your joy may also require that you dismantle the false construct that your life is about you. Now, it’s not our fault that we believe that the journey is all about us. From the moment we’re born, all eyes are on us. Attention is necessary to make certain that we’re breathing, that we have a safe passage through the womb, and adoring parents who continue that focus or not. Somehow, we begin to believe that everything is about our comfort, our future, our well-being, our pain. As I’m entering the latter phase of my life, I’m finally beginning to realize that the scaffolding of self that was erected from birth was a necessary but temporary support. It was a place I could hang my dreams and my visions, but it was never meant to be permanent. It’s only by faith and by our journey through a few dark nights of the soul do we relinquish the overwhelming chatter of ego, a feat that is all struggle and many setbacks. (Holmes, n.d.)
We consider the meaning of the call of Jesus to be perfect, not in the sense of perfectionism, but implore the Spirit to activate our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader to inform our action to practice perfect love for all the people we encounter.
References
Holmes, B. (n.d.). Joy: An Embodied Presence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/joy-an-embodied-presence/
Matthew, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?43
Meditation on Matthew 5:43-48. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/17/1307881/
Murphy McMahon, C. (2025, June 17). Daily Reflection June 17, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-17-2025
Psalms, PSALM 146 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/146?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Love Your Enemies and Pray for Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun17
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/8?1
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