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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.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
I don’t often find myself praying on street corners, but I enjoy praying in communion with others, participating with full heart and voice, as they say. Social media is awash these days with people sharing their acts of giving and generosity, sometimes for selfish reasons but sometimes to inspire others to do the same. So, why must we keep all of this hidden?
I recently lost a very special person who my family affectionately called “Cousin Mary.” Many would say she was the kindest and gentlest person they had ever met. However, in celebrating her life, I was made aware of her legacy, which was much more vast and far-reaching than I ever knew.
Cousin Mary regularly sang in the choir—she had the most beautiful voice—but during the homily at her funeral, her pastor spoke about Mary’s regular presence at daily Mass and her devotion to Christ. He spoke passionately about how she lived out Christ’s example of serving the poor and needy in her community, working diligently and tirelessly on their behalf. She performed these acts of service and devotion forcefully but softly. It was not as though she kept this all hidden; she just didn’t feel the need to broadcast it either.
At her repast, person after person came forward testifying to her faith and care for others. It was truly remarkable to learn what an impact she had on so many people. One theme that emerged from each reflection was an appreciation for Mary’s quiet strength. Mary never blew a trumpet, she didn’t pray loudly on street corners, she certainly kept her head and face clean, but she was doing the Lord’s work all the while.
So, when I reflect on today’s gospel, I am reminded of Cousin Mary and how she, without pomp or fanfare, lived out this very gospel to the fullest. May we all be inspired by her example.
Lord Jesus Christ, you instructed your disciples not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. May our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving be motivated by a genuine desire to love and serve God and others. Amen.
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