During this season, the faithful are summoned to do more works of charity,

to pray more intensely and to fast more meaningfully.

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us not to trumpet our religious practices out loud but rather to do them secretly.

Jesus also instructs us to keep our good deeds secret.

"Rend your heart, not your garment." 

 

 

St. Romuald, abbot

＊＊＊ 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 good deeds 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 noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward.

 

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 noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. 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 that 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 ：

"Give alms and fast."

Today's Gospel is of two parts; on almsgiving (cf. Mt. 6:1-6) and on fasting (cf. Mt. 6:16-18). As Christians, we are expected to give alms, and also, to fast. However, good deeds like almsgiving and fasting can be done with the wrong motivation: to show off. Jesus cautions us of such a tendency to do good acts for the wrong motive. Moreover, let us bear in mind that the heavenly Father always sees us in and out.

 

God is the one who will reward us for the good deeds done with the right motivation. Further, the Greek verb used here to refer to the hypocrites is apechó "to receive in full." The verb is related to an act of issuing a receipt for what has been paid in full. But the verb used to refer to the reward coming from God is apodidomi, which primarily means "to give out" or "to yield." God's grace yields abundantly when we do good acts with sincerity. Hence, God's reward is not transactional but transformational. This is because when we do good deeds without hypocrisy, we open ourselves up to God's grace, which in turn makes us better individuals.