PERFECT IN LOVE, HUMBLE IN CHRIST

 Divine Appeal Reflection - 233

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 233: "Be perfect and humble,..." 

The invitation to embrace both perfection and humility finds its foundation in the life of Christ, reverberating through the heart of the Church's enduring wisdom. In a world overflowing with distractions, where the pursuit of status often drowns out deeper truths, this call becomes a quiet yet urgent summons. It calls us to cut through the noise, to cultivate an inner peace that is not shaped by external recognition, but by a steadfast commitment to grace, integrity, and quiet strength.Our Adorable Jesus, who is the fullness of perfection and the model of humility, continues to speak this invitation into the heart of every vocation: the layperson navigating secular demands, the priest ministering amid skepticism and fatigue, and the consecrated soul offering their life in radical witness. In a digital age obsessed with image and self-definition, Christ redefines greatness: not in being admired, but in being poured out (cf. Philippians 2:7–8; cf. CCC 520).

Lay people today face intense cultural pressures—comparison on social media, pressure to "have it all," and a growing hostility toward public expressions of faith. And yet, Christ calls them to perfection not by withdrawing from the world, but by transforming it. A young professional in a competitive office who chooses honesty over career advancement lives a powerful witness. A couple who remains faithful in a difficult marriage, showing forgiveness rather than walking away, models the enduring love of God. A teenager who resists peer pressure and clings to the sacraments amidst a secular school culture is living heroic virtue. Humility in these situations often means choosing to be misunderstood rather than compromising the Gospel (cf. Matthew 5:10–12; cf. CCC 2013).

Priests in the contemporary world are called to shepherd flocks that are often distracted, disengaged, or disillusioned. They carry not only the sacraments, but the weight of broken families, suffering youth, and the wounds of scandal in the Church. Our Adorable Jesus shows them that perfection is not in flawless execution, but in the crucified love that stays faithful amid rejection. A priest livestreaming Mass to just a few online viewers, ministering in post-pandemic parishes, or spending hours helping the addicted or depressed, reflects Christ’s pastoral heart. Humility for him may mean embracing administrative burdens, walking with those who no longer believe, or remaining in difficult assignments without recognition—trusting God sees all (cf. CCC 1551, 1564).

Consecrated souls in today’s world are often surrounded by noise that mocks silence and a culture that questions the value of celibacy, poverty, or obedience. Yet their lives are a silent contradiction to the world’s hunger for more. A cloistered nun praying while the world sleeps, or a missionary sister serving in violent slums without Instagram applause, offers a holy resistance. In a time when everyone is expected to brand their identity, they empty themselves to be fully Christ’s. Their perfection lies in deep interior union, and their humility in their hiddenness. As St. Thérèse showed, the “little way” of love is a path to sainthood even in a time that overlooks the unseen (cf. CCC 925, 933).

Prayer

O our Adorable Jesus, teach us to embrace our fragility and let Your grace transform our weaknesses into strength. Through Your boundless love, shape us into vessels of virtue, so that in all we do, Your presence may shine brightly. May our lives become a reflection of Your tenderness, and through us, let the world encounter Your transforming love. Guide our steps, that in our journey, others may see not ourselves, but You.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.