DAILY GRACE
June 17, 2020, Wednesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
‘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.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
““Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.”
This Is the Gospel reading that we hear every year on Ash Wednesday. The Church however wants us to reflect on our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving all year long, not just in Lent.
Jesus gives examples of people doing good things, but for the wrong reason. The motivation behind the deed is as important as the deed itself, an important point we need to reflect on. Today, we don’t often blow a trumpet or pray out loud on the street corner, but we have plenty of other ways to show off.
When examining ourselves in this area, we need to consider something extremely important. In our secular North American context, public displays of faith and religious expression are often frowned upon. We are free to practice our religion, but we are expected to keep it to ourselves and not “impose” it on other people. This isolation of religion as one piece of our private lives gradually gives God less of an influence in the public sphere. We should never give to charity or pray or sacrifice in order for people to see, hoping that others will notice and admire us. But public expressions of faith can give witness to Christ in a secular world. So it might be good to pray grace before meals in a restaurant, or wear a cross. We don’t practice our faith to make a good impression, but neither should we hide it to make a good impression.
Prayer
Lord, sometimes I might act as if you are just one part of my life — an important one, but only one of many. In truth, you are my life. Without you, I would not only lose all meaning and happiness, I would also lose my life itself. I would no longer exist. Help me search my heart to see my motivations, especially in things I consider “good deeds.” Why do I do these things? Am I trying to make myself look good? Or am I trying to make you known?
Contemplation
Lord, help me to discern my motivation.