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 others 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
Jesus continues His sermon by warning against doing good deeds to receive praise. He gives examples in the areas that highlight our Lenten journey: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. First, we must ask ourselves are we praying everyday. If we are, is it effective? If not, are we gaining knowledge how to pray better? Second, are we fasting? Each Friday is a day of fasting to offer up suffering with the Lord’s including Lent. Third, are we giving alms if we have a steady income? Is our giving sincere or just what is expected? Are we giving to a charity that moves our heart? Last, if our Father sees these good things we are doing in secret, He is also seeing the sin that we do in secret. Do not think that you are getting away with sin because it is done in the privacy of your home or room. God sees everything.
Today’s challenge: Pray, fast, and give alms with purpose from your heart.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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