Today's Reflections
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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:
In secret.
Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are distinctive acts of Jewish piety.
Jesus says that they should be done in secret. Why? Jesus sees the
importance of inner disposition and proper motivation. These acts are
not meant to be done for public display, admiration, and recognition. We
do them to express our love for God and for our fellow men and women.
Giving alms in secret, for instance, is
done to die to selfishness, greed, and possessiveness, to share God’s
goodness, and to be channels of God’s graciousness.
We share what we receive and experience
from God. We pray and we fast not to enhance our public image or improve
our figures. Prayer and fasting make us realize that in this earthly
life our utmost comfort and consolation can come only from God. When we
give alms, pray, and fast, we do them for God.
What is your own motivation for doing such actsof piety as almsgiving, prayer, and fasting?
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