THE WORD
2 Kgs 2,1.6-14 / Mt 6,1-6.16-18
Jesus said to his disciples, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When 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. But when you give alms, do not let your le hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“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. But 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.
“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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so 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 OTHER WORDS
Today’s gospel reading leads us back to February 10, Ash Wednesday. Do we remember how deeply sorry we were as we received the ashes on our foreheads, resolving that we shall reform our lives and follow Him faithfully with constant prayer and acts of charity, as we observed fasting and abstinence on that day? It is a timely call for conversion at the beginning of Lent, to recollect and to start anew the path to repentance in preparation for Easter. Yet four months later, we meet the same text once again only to be reminded of the same message. Search your heart!
In particular, we are as if being asked: What moves us in our service to the Lord and His people?
What motivates us to pray, fast and do righteous deeds? Shall we do the same acts of charity even when nobody is looking around? Have we not felt disappointed or frustrated when we got no recognition nor reward for something we did special for someone else? Have we truly re ected upon the purity of our intentions? Search your heart!
One might recall the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,16), “… your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds …” But why is it that in today’s verses He seems to be saying otherwise?. “Do things in secret!” How then is it possible for a “light of the world,” who ought not be hidden, to obey the words of the Lord today? The answer is clear and is revealed in the last words: “… and glorify your heavenly Father.” Search your heart!
Yes indeed, let us search our hearts and discover what moves us. May our works be not for our own gain but for the glory of our heavenly Father who shall then reward us for our righteous deeds.
Our motivation lies here, and we know it. But oftentimes we forget. And so today, we are reminded so that we can redirect our paths, as we pray, fast and do acts of charity.
- Fr. Dindo Santiago, SVD | Japan
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
