“You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)

Impossible. Being even “just as Jesus” is impossible. So… Why did Jesus say: you must?

If we think about perfection in terms of our action, hard work, many efforts – then it is impossible. When perfection is to be with Him, allow Him to live in me like in a God’s temple – “for the temple of God, which you are, is holy” (Cor 3:17) – it is realistic, it is possible. As a temple is not holy because of its stones, architecture, material or equipment, but it is holy because it is His temple. 

“Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him” (Alleluia versus).

“Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

Jesus replied, … you are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.” (Mt 16:16-18).

You are the Christ – you are Peter, the rock. The dialogue. The true dialog.

To understand ourselves, to find our identity we need to recognize Him. If Christ is recognized, invited, if He is first in my life, I can recognize my identity, my vocation. And be whoever He wants.

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want” (Ps 23, 1)

“As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds”. (James 2:26)

It is like telling somebody “I love you” and ignoring this person totally. Faith needs deeds. Like love needs honesty, respect, gentleness, gifts, time to be together, dialogue and chastity.

My actions show His presence in my life.

When I am in my collar or my cassock, when my marriage ring is on my finger, the picture of my beloved in my wallet or on the wallpaper of my desktop, I am telling everybody, to whom I belong. My faith brings fruit.

“It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last” (Communion Antiphon, cf. Jn 15:16)

“Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15)

A question for You and me. A question for today and for tomorrow. It needs an answer. When I am alone and when people are around me. Is He really my Messiah? Christ? Master? Redeemer?

Peter answered correctly and at the same time didn’t accept the consequences. The same happens to me. Today I ask St. Peter for help. He knows how difficult it could be. He’ll help.

“Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.” Entrance Antiphon Cf. Ps 31(30): 3-4

“Be doers of the word and not hearers only” ( Jk 1:22)

The Bible is God’s word. Even if it is closed and among other books in our library.

We are asked to be the “doers”. First we can read the Bible. When we read it aloud (just for ourselves), we will proclaim Good News and we will think about it. And we will listen to its message. If we choose some words which are important for us, we will memorize them. If we share these words with others – we will preach.

The “Doers” – read, proclaim, think, listen, memorize, share, preach…. So many actions.

“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to His call” (Alleluia versus)

“…all good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (Jk 1:17)

A perfect gift. From the Father of lights. We are His children and He loves us. So He has prepared for us all good gifts and perfect gifts.

From above. From Him. For many through me. My actions and His glory.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him”. ( Alleluia versus)

“My brothers, consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you, for you well know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and perseverance must complete its work so that you will become fully developed, complete, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4)

“… a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you…” (James 1:2). Trials of many kinds. With faith our ability to recognize God’s will grows, our vision of life widens, God’s presence becomes more visible. When my eyes are focused on Him, I can see His providence, His guidance.

“So that you will become fully developed, complete, not deficient in any way” (Js 1:4).

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed the man who seeks refuge in him” (Ps 34: 9) – Communion Antiphon

“…anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court…” (Mt 5:22)

God takes care of our relations.

Being “angry with a brother” could be the sign of my own vision for him. And my own expectations. It could be also a sign of injustice, but so often is a source of future vengeance (or a plan for it).

My brother, even weak and sinful, is God’s child and deserves respect, and always, especially when in need, needs my prayer.

Anger is not a solution. Rather a call for patience, calm and compassion.

“Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.” (Ps 119, 17-18)

“…I feel sorry for all these people; they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat. If I send them off home hungry they will collapse on the way; some have come a great distance.” (Mk 8:2-3).

Compassion. The ability to feel sorry. To open one’s eyes for daily needs of others – “they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat. If I send them off home hungry they will collapse on the way…”.

Embodied soul, spiritual body. “As an incarnate spirit, that is a soul which expresses itself in a body and a body informed by an immortal spirit, man is called to love in his unified totality. Love includes the human body, and the body is made a sharer in spiritual love” (FC 11).

He loves the entire human being. Our Lord takes care of us in each area. When He takes care of my food, I can take care of His words.

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Alleluia versus).

(Readings from Feast of St. Cyril i Methodius)

“…sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting” (Lk 10:1).

It is always easier to travel together. Especially in such kind of mission.

Today I think and pray for couples. They are “in pairs”. And as such they are part of the Gospel: “sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting”. To prepare our family for His visit.

In every parish in Poland, after Christmas priests are visiting all parishioners to meet them, to pray with them and to bless their homes. The family: “the place holy and sanctifying” (John Paul II), “places he himself would be visiting” (Lk 10:1).

The couple united in prayer, concern about their mission, with the awareness that they are sent. In pairs

“The disciples went forth and preached the Gospel, while the Lord worked with them, confirming the word through accompanying signs” (Cf. Mk 16:20) Communion Antiphon