Alms giving, Prayer, Fasting
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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:
Almsgiving, prayer, fasting.
These are the three traditional acts of piety that we are urged to
perform as we enter the Lenten season. These practices are truly
religious acts, i.e., they draw us closer to God only if they are done
for God’s glory. But these acts also present us with a great temptation
to seek our own glory instead of God’s. Thus, we must remember to do
these things “for God’s eyes only.”
To
seek to draw attention to ourselves when we give alms, pray, or fast is
to devalue those actions. To do them in order to earn praise from
people is to lose the reward that matters—from God.
Formulate your own plan
or program for Lent 2013.
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