Blessed by Imperfection
By Rev. Frank Majka, S.J.
associate
director, University Ministry
Jesus told his followers “So be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Clearly, we should try hard to be as good as we can be. But what if perfection eludes us despite our best efforts? At that point, we might want to give our imperfections a second look. If we do, we may find that, ironically, our imperfections and flaws can be our allies in growing spiritually. How? Three ways come to mind.
Our weaknesses and imperfections may help us to grow closer to God by forcing us to depend on God. St. Paul writes that on a number of occasions he asked God to remove from him a particularly troubling problem. But God responded by assuring Paul that his imperfection actually served a purpose in making him realize how much he needed God’s help. Paul writes that God told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Our imperfections also can bring us closer to others, especially to people we might look down upon because of their flaws and weaknesses. Critical people can find it hard to be compassionate unless they realize that they, too, have weaknesses. Recall Jesus’ story of the Pharisee and the publican. (Luke 18:9-14). Despite all of the faults of the publican, it was his prayer not the Pharisee’s prayer that God heard. To realize that one has faults can go a long way to counteracting the self-righteousness that can afflict people.
To admit that we have weaknesses can make it easier for us to let others help us, and that is always a good thing. A diamond, after all, is perfect; but it is also hard and cold. Having a world full of people who cannot or will not accept help is not really a perfect world. Just the opposite. God created not just isolated human beings but a human family, people who are meant to reach out and help each other. Our flaws can be the door that allows us to open up and let others in.
Jesus’ words about being perfect might mean this: Just as God is perfect by being exactly who He is, we are perfect when we act like what God created us to be — people who will never be flawless but whose very imperfections allow them to be open to God and to one another.
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