Readings
I - 2Cor. 9:6-11
II - Mt. 6: 1-6, 16-18
ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA
Through today’s Gospel passage Jesus tries to alter the human focus from earthly reward to heavenly reward in the matters pertaining to the acts of piety. Since these acts of piety viz. almsgiving, prayer and fasting are attributed to God, they must be accomplished with an undivided attention and utmost concentration solely with the intention of pleasing God alone unlike the hypocrites and the Pharisees who sort for human appreciation and applause.
When once St. John of the Cross was praying, Jesus asked him, “What would you like to have from me for all you have done and all you have suffered?” John replied, “Lord, to suffer and be despised for you”. Today the Church remembers St. Aloysius Gonzaga who says, “It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world”. Like these saints, dare to have courage to forego the praises, glory and honour of this world and seek after the glory of the Lord. This is the wisdom of heart and grace of God. May the Lord give us the grace to choose God in all our thoughts, words and deeds and prove ourselves to be the children of God.
