“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
We find these words in the Gospel of Matthew, and while we know them to be true – being inspired by the Holy Spirit – they’re fairly hard to understand.
I mean, we all know the usual excuse for when we do something wrong is the simple phrase, “nobody’s perfect.”
So how do we justify the fact that we aren’t perfect – that we’re broken sinners – with the call to perfection that we find in Matthew’s Gospel?
If you stayed up late to watch the Kangaroos defeat England in the first Ashes Test and caught some of the post-match interviews, you would have seen a great example of this call to perfection in action.
After defeating England 26–6 in a rather convincing victory, some of the Australian players, while of course pleased with the win, surprisingly expressed disappointment – not just in patches of their performance, but specifically in conceding a try in the final minutes of the game.
Despite the scoreboard suggesting dominance, and despite the series being best of three (meaning points differential doesn’t really matter), the Kangaroos were able to acknowledge their own shortcomings and admit they needed to work harder before the second test.
That post-match honesty is a sporting reflection of the Christian call to perfection.
When Jesus says, “Be perfect,” the Greek word used – teleios – translates more closely to complete or whole.
He’s not demanding that we never make a mistake, but that we continually strive to become the people we were created to be. Holiness isn’t about never falling short; it’s about always moving toward wholeness in Christ.
For us as Catholics, that means looking at our lives with the same honesty the Kangaroos showed after their win. Even when things are going well, when we’re “winning” in our faith, prayer, or relationships, there’s always more to work on.
Maybe we’ve kept most of the commandments, but we’re holding a grudge.
Maybe we’ve prayed more lately, but neglected acts of charity. The call to perfection is an invitation to let God into every corner of our life, not just the areas that are already strong.
Just as the Kangaroos didn’t dwell on their conceded try in shame, but used it as fuel to improve, we too are called to respond to our spiritual weaknesses with humility and determination.
Because striving for perfection isn’t about obsessing over one mistake or comparing ourselves to others; it’s about having the courage to reflect honestly on what we can do better, holding ourselves accountable, and keeping forward with discipline and humility.
Each effort, each decision to grow in virtue, is part of becoming the complete person God calls us to be – turning both our victories and setbacks into opportunities for growth.
Nobody’s perfect, but that’s exactly the point. Earthly perfection, in Christ’s sense, isn’t about never making mistakes; it’s about becoming complete in love.
The goal isn’t necessarily a flawless performance, but a united heart, one that belongs wholly to God.
And like any great team, we get there one game, one effort, and one act of charity at a time.
