Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

Today's Reflections 
 
                                                             

 

Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

http://graceandspace.org

Ash Wednesday

(Fast and Abstinence)

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.”

YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET. Jewish festivals attract thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem. Beggars abound in the city as people fulfill their duty of giving alms in the temple or in synagogues. Almsgiving in public is a good opportunity to win the praise of people.

We all need praise and affirmation. Children acquire self-confidence when praised for good behavior. But praise cannot be the principal motivation for adults’ actions. Humility is the mark of spiritual maturity. The key to humility is to give God all the glory and praise.

In the Gospel, Jesus refers to our “good deeds” that include penance, almsgiving, and prayer. We should not put them in a box with our names pasted on it for everyone to see. What is important is that nothing escapes our heavenly Father who sees and knows everything. Since God’s reward is the only thing that ultimately matters, we entrust everything to God.

If you look at the heavens, you don’t see the tag:

MADE BY GOD. God is not insecure.

Ask for a share of divine humility.