Wednesday 17th June
Gospel Reading – 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 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Tony Curtis RIP
Reflection:
In the Gospel text today Jesus is advising his disciples not to parade their religious practices in front of others or use it to show off. He reminds them that they should fast and pray silently because God sees all that we do. I always find this Gospel amusing because we are reminded that we should not let the left hand know what the right is doing and we should not be like the hypocrites and yet on Ash Wednesday we put a big ash cross on our foreheads? The central point here is that Jesus does not want us drawing attention to ourselves he wants us to do the things we do for love of him and his glory and the we have no fear we will be rewarded.
- How do you put the teaching of this Gospel message of Jesus into practice?
Fr John