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.”

IN ORDER THAT PEOPLE MAY SEE THEM. Jesus teaches his disciples to check their motivation with respect to the three “pillars” of piety practiced by Jews and Christians alike: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Even the Arabs see these as three ways of doing homage and service to God: by prayer with our souls, by fasting with our bodies, and by almsgiving with our possessions.

Doing these practices of piety, we have to be careful to avoid hypocrisy that draws attention to ourselves rather than to God for whom piety is done and who alone gives true recompense. If we do these to win the praise of others, we may receive our “reward” in terms of being recognized, but our holiness is hollow and will not help us in our relationship with God. And this façade of holiness will fall when people will see us for what we are. Truth alone lasts; liars and hypocrites are unmasked in due time.

How do you avoid hypocrisy in a world

that glorifies fame, influence, and pleasure?