Readings
I - 2 Kings 2: 1, 6-14
II - Mt. 6: 1-6, 16-18
DO NOT PUBLISH YOUR DEEDS
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus instructs how to practice piety, perform prayer and fasting: unnoticed by others but known only to the Father in Heaven. While practicing piety, let the left hand know not what the right hand does; when praying, go into the room and shut the door and; when fasting, groom and look fresh. Otherwise we would lose our reward in heaven to the praises of the people around.
In the light of day’s Gospel passage, let us examine the quality of our charity, prayer and fasting. We are living in an era of publicity that dominates and overtakes humanness in the humanity. People are ready to do anything that would gain publicity. In this scenario, the Gospel passage is a challenge to seek for the reward from God overcoming the temptation of publicity. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the grace to strive for a hidden life of goodness and love”.
