＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14*

 (…..)When Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan

Elijah took his mantle, rolled it, and struck the water with it. The water parted to both sides and they crossed over on dry ground.

 After they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “What shall I do for you before I am taken away from you? Ask me.” Elisha said, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”  Elijah answered, “Your request is most difficult. Yet if you see me while I am being taken from you, then you shall have it. But if not, you shall not have it.”

As they were talking on the way, a chariot of fire with horses of fire stood between them, and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.  Elisha saw him (….)

When Elisha lost sight of him, he took hold of his own clothes and tore them. (…..) He took the cloak that had fallen off Elijah, hit the water with it, and asked, “Where is the Yahweh, the God of Elijah? When he hit the water again, it divided and Elisha crossed over.

 

Ps 31:20, 21, 24

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness before peo­ple. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven.   When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people.

I assure you, they have been already paid in full.  If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,   so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

 When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.  When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you. 

 When you fast, do not put on a mis­­­­erable face as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. 

When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret will reward you.

 

Gospel Reflection：

In an earlier passage, Jesus tells his disciples that they must allow their light to shine and that no one puts a lamp under a bushel basket. Why is he now asking them to do good deeds in secret so only the heavenly Father can see them?

The point, of course, is not whether the good we do is seen by others or not; the point is whether our deed is motivated precisely by that: having others behold them so that we can be affirmed, praised, and given the glory.

Good deeds done in secret for only the heavenly Father to see result in an attitude and disposition of the heart that is truly desirable to Him, because we do it only for his glory and only for the good of those whom we serve, those who are the recipient of our charity or kindness.

Then it belongs to the Father to give us our reward, according to his will.