Beyond Basic

Jesus calls his followers to be exceptional. It's easy to feel exceptional when the whole room of people who look like you and behave like you express their love for you.  But Jesus isn't impressed by loving those who love you and saluting only your brethren.  That's just basic human behavior. Jesus sets a higher bar in Matthew's Gospel with instruction to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  How is this possible? How are we to respond with the call to "be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect?"