Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

Today's Reflections

 

 

 

 

Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

 

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

[Jesus said to his disciples,] ¹“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. ²When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, ⁴so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

⁵“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
¹⁶“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Reflection:
 
When you give alms. Ash Wednesday opens the season of Lent with the blessing and imposition of ashes. We are reminded, “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return.” Or we are challenged, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

The three pillars of Jewish piety—almsgiving, prayer, and fasting—sum up the challenge of the season in the word ASH.

A is for almsgiving. We have compassion for our less fortunate brothers and sisters and attend to their needs.

S is for sacrifice that underlies fasting. We deprive ourselves of human pleasure and comfort so as to find our happiness in God alone. We give up some good like food to be in solidarity with the poor and share our blessings with them.

H is for holiness that is nurtured by prayer. To be holy is to be in communion with Jesus and to make him the center of our life. In prayer, we attune our lives to him and make him rule our ways and our will.

List the practical ways with whichyou can help needy people in Lent.