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. Bu when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be a 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 the 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."
The Word in other words
We are familiar with our "Panatang Makabayan" (Pledge of Loyalty to our Country): "Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Filipino, sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa". (I will strive to become a true Filipino in thought, word, and in deed). Are we truly living this pledge in our day-to-day life?
Today's Gospel gives us practical tips or reminders on how to perform righteous deeds, how to pray and how to fast. In short, it presents to our consciousness how to truly live our Christian life. When we do good, whether by charitable works, prayer or fasting, we should do them with the right motive and right intention and not for self-satisfaction or self-aggrandizement - to be praised, to be honored and to attract people's attention to us.
For our actions to be truly meaningful and helpful, we must aim at the good of all. Our prayers and actions must express our sincere gratitude to God for His countless blessings and our sincere desire to help build one another in love and responsibly care for the development of our environment. We should fast with an honest heart and fast from gossip, rumor-mongering and dishonest deeds so as to promote peace, justice, and harmony in society and the world. With St. John the Baptist, let our lives proclaim: "He must increase, I must decrease:.
As God has so wondrously blessed us in Jesus who is our Way, Truth, and Life, and as He continuously blesses us through the Holy Spirit, may we, in turn, be a blessing to one another and to the world. He has gifted us through the things we honestly do in thought, word and deed. May God be praised forever.
- Sr. Elena Rosa Salonga, SSpS (CHS, QC)
