DAILY- HOMILY

June 20, 2018 – WEDNESDAY, 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Green.

2 Kgs 2: 1, 6 - 14 / Mt 6: 1 - 6, 16 – 18

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 6: 1 - 6, 16- 18.

Jesus said to his disciples, "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 people. I assure you they have already been 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 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."

REFLECTION

If we have a nice house, a new car, or a promotion in our job, do we find ourselves flaunting our good fortune? Why do we have to show off?

The Gospel reading today tells us not to perform our good deeds of helping the needy, of prayer and of fasting for other people to see. What we do should not be intended to be shown off, perhaps to impress others or to gain popularity. Rather our actions should be our response to God's love: "Your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you."

Let us always check our motives. We should be conscious of our intentions: we pray because we wish to be close to God; we give alms because alms-giving is an expression of our love of God shown by love of neighbor; we fast for our purification and spiritual strength. We do not do any of these good deeds to impress others.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.. 

Have a good day!

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