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GOSPEL POWER | FEBRUARY 17, 2021 - ASH WEDNESDAY
GOSPEL POWER | FEBRUARY 17, 2021
ASH WEDNESDAY (FAST AND ABSTINENCE)
Gospel: MT 6:1-6-18
Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. . . “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
REFLECTION
Human hunger for affirmation, as well as dread of public disapproval, can easily creep into our motivations and pollute our best intentions even in matters of religious observance. At the time of Jesus and in the Jewish context he is addressing, the challenge is to avoid turning the practice of righteous deeds into a public show that draws the admiration of onlookers. Today, in our secularized world that often views these pious acts as antiquated and obsolete, doing them in secret could be motivated by avoidance of criticism and embarrassment rather than reserving these deeds for God’s eyes alone. But the essence of Jesus’ exhortation has not changed — we are to do everything, including pious acts, to please God alone rather than to satisfy the whims of the ego by either seeking the admiration of others or by avoiding their criticism.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, purify our intentions and never let us fall into hypocrisy when performing acts of piety. Amen.
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By Daughters of St. Paul | Phil-Malaysia- PNG-Thai Province
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GOSPEL POWER | FEBRUARY 17, 2021
ASH WEDNESDAY (FAST AND ABSTINENCE)
Gospel: MT 6:1-6-18
Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. . . “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
REFLECTION
Human hunger for affirmation, as well as dread of public disapproval, can easily creep into our motivations and pollute our best intentions even in matters of religious observance. At the time of Jesus and in the Jewish context he is addressing, the challenge is to avoid turning the practice of righteous deeds into a public show that draws the admiration of onlookers. Today, in our secularized world that often views these pious acts as antiquated and obsolete, doing them in secret could be motivated by avoidance of criticism and embarrassment rather than reserving these deeds for God’s eyes alone. But the essence of Jesus’ exhortation has not changed — we are to do everything, including pious acts, to please God alone rather than to satisfy the whims of the ego by either seeking the admiration of others or by avoiding their criticism.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, purify our intentions and never let us fall into hypocrisy when performing acts of piety. Amen.