Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
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 left 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.” MT 6:1-6, 16-18
Today, Jesus teaches us 3 important lessons in being Christ-like. Repent means to change our heart (the way we look at life) to be more like Christ’s most Sacred Heart. A servant. An instrument of God’s peace, love, and joy. We are called to holiness through our baptism. Jesus died to have a relationship with us, so that we may know Him, imitate Him, and return to the Father. We are called to fight Satan and profess a creed. Fr. Mike Schmitz says, “What we believe in is what we belong to. What we belong to is how we live and what we are willing to die for.” This is our Christian identity branded onto us at Baptism.
In fasting, we search for the temptation in our life that is leading us the furthest from God and work on it. We may need to “cut off our hand or pluck out our eye” if it is causing us to sin. We may need to fast from our cell phone, computer, tablet, TV, to help us avoid the near occasion of sin.
Fasting is the first step in fighting addiction. Which addiction do you need to work on? The 3 areas of our life that must be controlled or rightly ordered are world/culture (electronics/social media), flesh (lust), and material goods(unnecessary material goods) to enter into the Kingdom. God’s grace is necessary and surrendering into His loving arms to make small gains and continue the journey towards holiness. This will help us to be more present in our relationships and communicate more which leads to peace and joy. This may help us to not rush through our work to get to our entertainment, but concentrate on what we are made for, relationships.
Most importantly, our relationship with God, prayer and reflection on the Scriptures, silence and listening. We might feel empty the first week when we give something up, this is okay, we must walk through the desert, fall to our knees and tell God we need Him to help us. Once we recognize that we need God, we are well on our way to growing towards Him. This in turn opens our hearts to good deeds and giving alms to the poor. In prayer, we get back to center where Jesus is and He will guide us to what is right. Jesus is Truth, reality, what is. This helps guide us and lead us.
Repent means to change your life and grow in holiness. It is difficult and maybe even impossible, but with God’s grace anything is possible if you believe. What do you need to change or fast from?
Today’s challenge: Recognize you need God through fasting from something that is keeping you away from the most important things in life, God, family, friends, and work. Receive God’s blessings and love and share them with those in greatest need. Love the unlovable.
It doesn’t matter what others think of us, it only matters what God sees.
I think this scripture is saying when you are praying or talking to God in any way you need to mean what you are saying to him and believe that he is listening and can help you. If you pray or confess your sins and don’t really mean it God had forgiven you always but not spiritually. It only counts if you are honest with God and believe that he is with you and listening to you.
I think this is saying how we should give things up. As lent is starting now we should be fasting and giving up our lives to show us how our love of material goods should be replaced with our love of God and the real people around us.
we are not expose to be fasting for our selps and its not going to be easy but god had way worse so give it up for him
“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Jesus tells us to fast and pray because we want to grow closer to God, not to show off to other people. He wants us to make sacrifices for him and not for ourselves. If we do this, he says that we will receive our eternal award, though those who boast about their sacrifice will not.
The scripture today is telling me that the hard part of fasting and praying in secret is that you won’t be immediately satisfied. If you do it publicly, people will think you are very holy. But no one will say anything about your holiness if they don’t see it. We want to be noticed by others. But when we pray in secret, we will get a better reward in heaven. Would you rather have everlasting life in joy and all that, or would you rather have someone think of you as holy? They are both good, but we have to pick the better one.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.” Jesus says when you fast don’t be sad about it. You need to be happy and to give up all of your saddness to God.
The gospel today taught me that I have to be Christ-like to show a good example of how God was like. Being “like” God is a good way to show how God acts, and how he taught us to act. It shows other people that he taught us well and that they should consider turning to God. It’s a good way to clean the soul and it’s a good way to spread the word of God.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus is telling us the three lesson: fasting, giving alms, and prayer. We can fast to give up our things that we do most of the day and use that time to get closer to God. In prayer we learn how to talk to God and for Him to speak to us. In giving alms we give back what God has gave us. If God gave you a great job and a lot of money we need to give some of that money back to the Church or to places that will help other people.
When Jesus said “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,” I think he was trying to say that you should only care what God is saying not what the popular kid is saying. You should strive to be like Jesus not like other people. You should only strive to be like God it does not matter what else happens just what you do with God.
Today Jesus teaches us how to be Christ-like. He is trying to help us understand the importance of fasting and praying. We need to trust Jesus’ words with all our soul because he only wants the best for us, and for us to be happy with him in heaven.
It is saying that when you becomes strong enough mentally it helps when trying to set a huge goal because during these 40 days it’s going to get rough and hard and it is going to be tempting to give something up and not engage in that. God is saying that when you stay true to the sacrifice and true to God and to your friends and family they are going to reward you spiritually and physically. You need to stay Holy in Lent and out of Lent. You need to keep your promise and truly give up things that are bad for you that don’t do you any good. We all know that we may mess up but that’s good that’s a reminder to stay humble. You need to try your best to give something up in Lent and off of Lent.
In todays gospel God is telling me that we do a lot of things just for the attention. We look like we are sad so then others feel bad for us and come talk to us and give us attention. Like He says today “Do not be gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting”. What God wants us to do is talk to him in secret and in truth. When your praying by yourself there is no reason to try to get the attention because the only other person in your room with you is God. So when you pray try to get Gods attention, not everyone else.
If we do good, why should we take credit, when our Heavenly Father has given everything to us, and has done better good, so that we, who betrayed Him, might be saved? If the Lord has done more good than us, than why should we brag of the good we have done? Did He not take a horrible death to save all of this world, and yet we still judge other of not doing good? Instead, let us take up our cross, and follow him through the forty days in the desert.
In our world toay, there are just so many bad things going on. Some people just need a good thing to happen in their life. It is so important to work behind the scenes to help people. The only way to do that is to always be open to helping others. Jesus is telling me to do something good for someone today, even if they might not notice. Everyone deserves the same respect as a human being as anyone else.
Jesus tells us that we do not need to win the praise of others for being Holy. Our relationship with Jesus is our own and does not need to be shown to others for approval. Jesus says that the father will repay us in secret.
Your relationship with God has to be real. It can’t be fake or just so you can get to heaven.
This whole scripture is God telling us to not “sacrifice” ourselves for attention. Yes, you may be praised by others, but that will never amount the the praise you can get from God Himself. Fast, be kind to others, do good, but never show it off as a trophy so people can have pity on you.
I think this scripture is saying, when you talk to Jesus you need to close out all the noise. Not just the noise outside, but the thoughts inside your head to. When we talk to Jesus, He doesn’t want is thinking about what where going to do after mass or after we pray. He wants us the think about Him and our faith.
Today He is trying to say that we fast and give up for us and that we do not go and stop doing this but that we need to be with Jesus and that He wants us to stay close to him and when we fast and give up we get rewarded and will be stronger with Jesus
This Gospel tells us that we should be humble. God doesn’t want us to boast and try to look good in front of other when we fast/pray. Jesus wants us to remember that our reward is in Heaven and not on this earth. Another thing that Jesus tells us in this Gospel is to willfully fast. We shouldn’t just fast because we are forced to. Fasting shows God how much we love Him. We should be happy when we fast.
Today’s scripture tells us that we need to be aware and joyful when we are praying. Even Jesus says “When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,” When we pray we need to be teaching others that we are encountering God. Jesus wants us to be joyful when talking to Him because it shouldn’t be a chore to talk to God.
In today’s scripture this is what stuck out to me “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” I think this stuck out to me because to me it means you can do all those little things that secretly inspire people. Doing the little things in life make a huge difference and they don’t even have to know it was from you. We have to be selfless. In doing these things, do them when only God will know what you did.
I think what Jesus meant when he said, “Do not let your right hand know what you left is doing”. He was saying to do good deeds when no one is watching or around is more important than sharing something good you did. This is because when you brag of a good deed it loses all it’s value because you did not do it out of the goodness of your heart you did it to impress.
Today’s gospel is about Jesus repaying you for what you have done
this scripture is saying during a part “do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.” it like if you something about someone don ́t like tell someone else which is your left hand and it could also be your secret and you just want to tell other if like not letting other know and then it like going to be a secret and when it say “When you fast,do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.They neglect their appearance,so that they may appear to others to be fasting.”this is saying when you are fasting don’t pretend don’t be afraid to fast and to be christian.
This scripture is about how you shouldn’t give something big or crazy up just so other people will see it and think you’re a good catholic but you need to do these things for you and for God. You shouldn’t try to act like an in credibly holy person if you really are not. Only God knows if you are truly good or evil so only God needs to know you are doing something.
What reached out to me was, “so that your almsgiving may be secret.”. What this means to me is that being Catholic may not be a flashy cool life, but it doesn’t have to be. Being Catholic can be a struggle with things like fasting on days like this, but in the end it will always be worth it.
In life we need to ignore the stuff causing us to sin. Get away from screens, get away from people. Find a quiet spot to clam our minds and pray. We need to focus on the good things life gives us. Don’t spread to the whole world that we found something good and use it for your own benefits. Use it to bring closer to Jesus. If we act selflessly and grow closer to God we will be rewarded. If we act like God we can grow closer to God and find happiness in Heaven.
What reached out to me was, “so that your almsgiving may be secret.” What this means to me is that being Catholic may not be a flashy cool life, but it doesn’t have to be. Being Catholic can be a struggle with things like fasting on days like this, but in the end it will always be worth it.
Today’s gospel is telling us to folllow God and pay attention when we are praying.
Our faith isn’t just for show or to make you seem like a better person to other people. Faith and religion is for what you really believe and have faith in. We shouldn’t try to force people into religion, but welcome them invitingly and lovingly. We must have a special connection with God. Whether it’s praying to God in secret or doing something religious with others.
I feel like this scripture is saying to do what is right event though others are doing something else or something wrong. If you know it is right then do it. If you know it is wrong don’t do it, don’t be afraid that God will be with you always. Always remember that.
Jesus says you need to be humble. And when you think about it, Jesus is probably the best example of humility in all of the bible. He is God, but he came down in the form of a lowly human and he didn’t complain, he didn’t boast, he just did what his father told him to. Let him be an example for the rest of us.
The first word that caught my eye was actually the first word, humble, I think God is asking, me personally, to be more humble. He is also telling all of us that whatever we do God sees it.
This scripture is teaching us the importance of fasting and to be Christ-like. We need to focus on our faith (eternity) instead of Earthly things like social media, gossip, and comparing each other. Sometimes as a Catholic we think that our faith has to always be exciting, but sometimes our faith might seem boring and not fun. But we will find out that even when it was not fun, it changed our life and helped us reach Heaven.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; this is saying don do things to look good. do things to be good. don’t brag about something you did good because that is the opposite of what you want to do you need to humble yourself. and then people will be proud of you.
I think Jesus is telling us that we need to give ourselves up for him. We should not take advantage of what we have, but instead give it up for Jesus. We also need to fast for him, because he fasted for us.
In today’s scripture it was trying to tell us that when we do something good we should not do it for the attention but for the good of it. When we help others we should not want a prize because helping is a prize itself.
Your relationship with God has to be real. It can’t be fake or just so you can get to heaven.
Jesus went through suffering for us. He died for us, and some may not see how big of an impact that makes on people. If Jesus could have the courage to die for us even though he was scared, we can bear our crosses for 40 day by giving up sweets, electronics, ect. God loved us so much that He sent His only son to save us and we can’t make a small sacrifice for Him? We can, and we should.
the scripture today is saying when we pray we dont do it for other peoples attention no, we only do it for God and He is saying that we must take action in doing so. but not to draw much attention to our selves when we do. the fasting is part of praying and a command we have to do that should be unnoticed.
I think today’s scripture passage is trying to tell us that we shouldn’t always do good thing just when others are watching. If we pray in secret, God will see you and you will be rewarded. Just because others see you doing good things, doesn’t make you a good person. Instead of doing good things in public, we should think about the fact that what we are doing is for God, not for other people to see.
This piece of Scripture says that we shouldn’t bring attention to ourselves. When we are doing something to help someone, it does not have to be known. If you show others the act of service or kindness that you are doing, you try to build up your reputation by saying “Oh look how nice I am! I’m such a great person!”. When you do that, it seems selfish and that you are doing the act of kindness for our own good.
Scripture tells us that we need to have a personal relationship with God. We can’t just pray when others people are looking. We need to take time to talk to God. We need to truly love God.
When I read the scripture I was really moved by it. Jesus is basically saying do good deeds even if no one sees them. To not just put up an act for others but to be true to yourself. To be the best person you can be, and you can only get there if you act like your true self. That true image of holiness within you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.” This has meaning because some Catholics don’t fast while others do. I get that people like sweets but maybe don’t eat them every night. I know it’s almost Easter so lets try to fast till them.
I think today’s scripture reading is saying do the good things even when no one is watching because you should always be kind.
I feel like Jesus is just telling me to really take Lent seriously. Not just give something up, but really think about why I’m giving that thing up. Really think about what Jesus did for us. I think He is telling me to sit in silence and reflect even more than I do now. He’s telling me to make Lent a time for spiritual growth, and not just something I do because I have to.
This scripture is telling us that if we participate in lent we actually have to participate in lent. we cant just say we are doing it we have to actually do it. Give something up for the lord or ask for Gods help we can’t just say ya i’m fasting from this and still be doing it. God trusts up with his word so we have to keep it and we have to fulfill it.
Jesus tells us to fast and pray so we can get closer to him. Some of us might think of Lent as a time of suffering and stuff like that, but it’s not that Lent is about getting to know God better and get closer to him.
What this scripture reflection tells me is that we need to prove ourselves to God that we are all real. That we need to show him that we are loyal and that we can be able to love him like he loves us.
I think it means when we do things in public we get an immediate response from the people around us. But when we do it in private we don’t get an immediate response and we get anxious and we wait for such a long time to the point where we can sometimes give up or get frustrated.
This scripture tells us that we need to do good things to others, but we don’t have to go out and “brag” about it or show it off. Others don’t need to know what goods we have done, but God will always know what you did good and will repay you in the future. All you need is have trust in God and put your faith in him and he will always lead us the right way towards heaven.
Today, Jesus is telling us how to fast and pray and give alms. He tells us DO NOT do it just for the praise. Too often we find ourselves doing rightous and holy acts just for the praise of others, the praise of other sinners instead of doing it for the praise of the one who is without sin, the one who is truely holy. We shouldn’t be like the hypocrites who do these just for attention and praise. We need to do like Jesus said, pray in the inner room, do not let your left hand know what the right is doing, annoint your head and wash your feet so that the Father in secret may reward you
In today’s scripture I feel like Jesus is telling us that we need to actually pray and not just fake it or sit in silence. Jesus says don’t be like hypocrites to me that means don’t just act like your praying actually pray and you will get something out of it.
In today’s reading it’s telling us not to pray for attention. You shouldn’t pray so that other people will think you are prayerful and holy, you should pray for the right reasons like getting to know God and getting closer to Him. If you pray just to get other people to notice it is not real prayer.
I think that the Gospel passage today is trying to tell me that when I pray, I need to actually understand and mean what I am trying to say. We can’t just say that we pray just to make us look good and get all the attention. For example if we are apologizing to Christ about what we have done, and we don’t actually mean it, we won’t be forgiven. You may get attention, but not forgiveness from the one you need forgiveness from the most, Jesus.
We are meant to do prayer, fasting and alms giving during lent. We are supposed to do these things without complaining or doing it loudly making sure other people notice. Do your prayer by yourself and don’t tell others what you are fasting from.
To repent is to humble yourselves and change the way you look at things. You don’t go out and do good deeds or pray in the way to where you brag to make yourself look better, otherwise you’re not really doing something good. You can’t only be good and fast and pray when others are around because that doesn’t mean anything. It’s what you do when no one else is looking that makes up your character and that will make up the relationship you have with Jesus. Pray in silence. Humble yourself, and repent.
What this scripture reflection tells me is that we need prove ourselves to God. That we are real and that we love him as much as he loves us.
The Gospel today tells me that we should always trust Jesus and not listen to what others think of us. Jesus made us the way we are and we shouldn’t change anything about it. He also teaches us about alms-giving and why it’s important to fast.
This scripture is telling me God sees everything. If you fast and hide it the Father still sees it. It is also telling me to give things up for lent because we need to fast from things.
What I got out of today’s Gospel is that we as Catholics act fake and only pray and act like we are when others are around, not on our own time. We need to humble ourselves and learn this Lent to live our lives in true holiness not hypocritical holiness.
This gospel tells me that when I fast give alms giving or do a special prayer, I need to not brag about how good or holy I am, but do it out of sacrifice for the Lord. Jesus says in the gospel that he will repay us if we do as we should. I find it hard sometimes to give things up or do extra things in lent, so I really need to trust in Him this lent.
This scripture today is telling me that it is always right to do good things. It also told me that God is always watching and that it is how your going to get to heaven.
I think its saying even though we may not see the results of fasting or praying the Lord sees it and it strengthens our soul. Everything we do we should do for the Lord.
This scripture passage is about when Jesus says that we sometimes pretend that we are doing something like in this we pretend that we are fasting and he says that we will still get a reward from others and from God but if we, “Wash our face and fast then others might not give you a reward but the hidden God will.”
What I think the scripture is saying is that whatever good thing you do God will repay you in someway. So if you do something good just know that God is going to repay you with something.
What I got out of this Scripture passage is that we need to stop needing so much attention. God doesn’t tell us to get as much attention as we can during our lives. He tells us to honor His name, to spread the Word of God, and to help each other get to Heaven. When we go out into the world and act so holy, God must be so disappointed. We aren’t doing any of those things by acting holy. What helps us get the ultimate reward of Heaven would be not acting holy, just being holy. This is the way God intended for us to live our lives.
I think this Gospel is telling us that we may not notice a change when we fast, but God notices it and rewards our soul with grace.
This scripture is about how dont do prayer as a just thing to do.Do it as a way to get more holy and to get closer to God so you can be with him for eternity.
We need to prove ourselves and give everything to God because if we are just doing it so that we can get to heaven thats not a real relationship.
In the scripture today I think the point of it is that lent isn’t easy. It’s not supposed to be easy. But we still need to try and not just go through the motions. Fasting is good and you may not be satisfied in the beginning but in the end it will be all worth it.
Jesus tells us to throw our pride away and to not brag about being holy. He says to pray in secret and not boast like the Pharisees did. God will know, even if when we follow this.
Jesus is saying that we need to give things up for him, and not only for ourselves. We need to make sacrifices for him, like he make a sacrifice for us.
If you want to do a good deed you don’t do it because you want people to see you, so that they think of you as a better person. You do it just because it might make someones day better. Or when we want to praise Jesus we do not go out and do it on the side of the road, you pray somewhere more secluded and quiet. As humans we want praise and for people to be like I saw you doing this good job. But we need to learn to do things not to make others think better of us but just because it will make us a better person. Because even if someone did not see it God saw it and that is really all that matters.
Today is Ash Wednesday the start of lent when we fast and give things up. This is a sacrifice form our normal comfortable life to show God we can give things up that aren’t eternal like video games, social media, and more. You can also do things like praying more, doing the rosary once or more each day, and doing small deeds at home. Lent is a time to find control of the things you can.
In today’s Scripture, I think that Jesus is trying to tell us to humble ourselves. If we are humble that means that we do not go around proclaiming our good deeds like the hypocrites, but we keep them between ourselves and God. It doesn’t matter if other people know that we have done good things, because God already knows and that is all that matters.
This gospel is telling me that I have to do God’s will. It won’t always be easy but in the end it will end up okay. Giving up something for these 40 days isn’t that difficult. Jesus gave up everything for us, so we can do the same in return, especially if it’s for this short amount of time.
We have always heard patience is a virtue. It might be the last thing I have right now but it is the best thing to have right now. Jesus is giving us signs to repent but in secret. We do not use prayer as an ego boost but more the opposite. Prayer is coming to God humble and with your brokenness and letting him take care of it. We need to have patience to let God do work through and inside us. That is what we are waiting for too. His resurrection of himself and his triumph over sin.
In todays Scripture, Jesus is telling us to pray in are own way and to be Christ-like so we can be humble about praying and not do it has a chore and do it has a gift, a gift to talk to God
Today’s Scripture passage is saying that we need to always pray to God to become closer to Him. I think I need to try to be open minded when I’m praying and do more listening then talking. We might not think that fasting and praying is important, but it truly is. God wants us to be close to Him and even if we aren’t He is still looking after us.
Today the Gospel is saying when we are fasting don’t look so mad or annoyed, we need to remember why we are fasting and giving up for the lord. We need to remember what He went through for us over the time spam of 40 days and 40 nights. Over this Lenten season we need to pray more to the Lord even though if we don’t see God listening.
This scripture is telling me that it is always good to do the right thing.
this scripture is about how we should not make religious things about us. we should make them about God and other people
The scripture is saying don’t go and pray because you see your friend doing it. Pray on your own time and do it in private not in front of people.
I think this scripture is trying to tell us that we need to be willing to change our ways to give our life up for God. We often let material things get in between our relationship with God.
We live in a society that thinks that every small, kind act deserves recognition. We think that something we do that barely does anything should make people thank us, but God’s telling us that we shouldn’t want recognition for every small act. Jesus did the most amazing thing someone can do, all while instead of being thanked, he was beaten, mocked, insulted, and died because he wanted to save us from our own sin.
Don’t try to glorify yourself among other peoples by showing off the way you are “fasting”, praying, giving alms, because if you do it this way, you are not doing it out of the goodness of your heart, but doing it for your own gain. That’s not okay. We need to put Jesus first, Others second, and ourselves last. It’s the definition of JOY. Jesus, Others, Yourself. When we show off the way we are praising God, we are not really praising God, we’re taking advantage of other people’s belief in him, and twisting around the facts to make them think that we are “holy little angels”, when we are just liars. Don’t let yourself be turned to take advantage of other people around you, rather, do it by yourself, when you can talk to Jesus like a real friend who will always be there for you.
What I think Jesus is trying to say is that we need to not be like the hypocrites. We can’t just act like we are Catholic when people expect us to be. We have to go the extra mile when no one is looking. When the camera is on us we act like Catholics but are we actually living our lives out like a Catholic. This Lent we need to work on going that extra mile and doing extra for God.
jesus his herr with us rit now
I think that this scripture is telling us to not take all of the blame for things that you and others do and don’t steal all of the credit from others even though that you do barely anything. How it is saying that others will do that and take all of the credit but not to follow their example it’s to show us what not to do and what to do.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” What this is saying is that doing good deeds is not about having other people see that you are doing good. It means that you should not preform deeds for people to see them but so that you are doing good deeds for others and not caring if others see them or not.
The Gospel is saying that we need preform rightness needs for lent. Jesus does not need sacrifices we need sacrifices. That the only way we can think God will love us but that is wrong he will love us in our bad and our good.
I think today’s scripture is saying that when you do anything in God’s name or become closer to God in any way do not show off. Do it in secret because you will be treated differently whether you pray in public or pray in secret. Either way God sees you praying and will give you your reward in the house of our heavenly father.
This scripture today brings maybe meanings. The scripture today was teaching us the importance of fasting for the 40 days and to be more Christ-like. We should all try and focus on our faith instead of things we can’t take to heaven with us like phones, toys, any other distractions. A lot of the time as Catholics we think that our faith has to always be super exciting and fascinating, but our faith should be more than exciting. It’s the key to life. But we will find out that even when we think it was not fun, it really changed our life in a huge way and helped us reach Heaven.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds; in order that people may see them.” What this is saying is that doing good deeds is not about having other people see that you are doing good. It means that you should not preform deeds for people to see them but so that you are doing good deeds for others and not caring if others see them or not.
This Gospel brings me back to when on Youtube or Tiktok when we see people posting about giving thousands of dollars to the poor. God tells us though to give without wanting to be noticed or get praise. Instead of going out in the middle of a large crowd and randomly doing a deed that we don’t normally do in our daily lives just to get attention is not what God tells us to do. God tells us that it is best if we practice our faith in “secret,” this does not mean that we deny that we are Catholic. This means that we don’t do acts of kindness and then post it on Tiktok when that was planned. We need to pray in our room every night and not get attention by doing it in public. It is one thing if you go out to dinner with your family to say the prayer before meals, but it’s another to scream it to get attention. I learned that we need prayer unseen and we will get even more out of it.
I think the gospel is telling us about fasting and what it does. Fasting is a way to give back to God what God already gave you. It shows that you appreciate all the gifts that he gave you. God said fasting is the first step to fighting addiction. So we all need to fast and think about God more than the objects that we use everyday in this Lenten season.
The Gospel is telling me today that we don’t have to be perfect or like “other” people. Jesus says “do not let your left hand know what your right is doing”. Be yourself and God will still love you.
The gospel teaches us that Jesus gave his all during lent. He stayed in the desert for forty days with nothing but temptation from the devil. He was tempted over and over again but He stayed strong. Jesus did that for us. We know how much Jesus sacrificed for us. So, the least we can do is sacrifice for him.
God wants us to do good even when no one is looking and continue to have a personal relationship with him. It may be hard to do this because there is so much bad and negativity in the world. We also should not bring attention to ourselves and lead others to do bad things.
I think the scripture is telling us to keep almsgiving a secret. You can do something nice without that person knowing you did it. I don’t know why, it just is.