Reflection for June 19 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

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 alms giving 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.”

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Reflection:

What motivates us to do good? For example in giving to the poor, what motivates us to help them? In giving to the poor Jesus has a major requirement that we should follow. Do it in secret without anyone knowing about it.  

Why in secret? This is for the reason that secrecy and humility is the language of Jesus secrecy is also a close relative of humility which Jesus embodies to the hilt. 

The teaching of Jesus on almsgiving is totally opposed to the teachings of this world, which, unfortunately, many of us follow. This world teaches us to publicize and broadcast whatever good we do. It encourages us to post our acts of kindness on Facebook and other social media platforms so that those who know us may see them and consequently have a good impression of us.

Why publicize? Perhaps this is brought about by our hunger for recognition. And there’s no wrong about it for we simply want to be recognized.  But Jesus is challenging us not to go  after recognition and to not publicize what we do. Jesus is challenging us to silently fade away after we have done good to anyone. 

Can you measure up to this challenge of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas