The Comfort in the Silence

Wednesday the Eleventh in Ordinary Time Gospel Refection

“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.”

~Matthew 6: 1-6,16-18

Let us praise the Lord Brothers and Sisters!

In today's Gospel, we see the importance of intimacy with the Lord. Christ tells us to do actions of love and reverence in secret so that we are not to gain reward on earth. The world’s praise is fleeting. Man is constantly changing what is praised now will not be glorified in fifty years. Therefore, we must pray in private for humility so that we are not stiving to receive glory from those around us. All glory must be returned to God. 

Christ tells us to practive our Piety, alms giving, prayer and fasting in private. And the Father who sees in secret will reward us. 

That is not to say to work for the reward only but let these actions be out of love to God. To lay our life back at the feet of the life giver is to gain our life again. 

Ways we can put this Gospel calling in our daily life: 

• Daily silent prayer

• Practice good hygine

• Do not brag about how much money you tithed on sunday or donate. 

• Do deeds for others without seeking reward, such as simply washing dishes, making someonesles bed or coffee/ tea in the morning. 

Sins to avoid

• Pride 

• hypocricy 

• greed 

We must avoid being self seeking. For everything that is good comes from the Lord. Therfore, if we receive the praise that belongs to the Lord, we are stealing from him. Therefore, brothers and sisters, all gloy and priase to God and may all you do be done in secret.