Being perfect is not perfectionism

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For 7 March 2009, Saturday of 1st week of Lent, based on Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

About Mary Jean Traeger, O.P.

Mary Jean is a Dominican Sister of Springfield, Illinois. She holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and a Certificate in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.

She has been promoter of preaching, national convener of the U.S. Dominican Promoters of Preaching, and vice-president of the Catholic Coalition on Preaching. She sits on the board of the Parable Conference.

Having completed two terms as Prioress General of the Springfield Dominicans, she now ministers as parish life coordinator at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Springfield, Illinois.