WEDNESDAY of 11th WEEK, uneven numbered year
“Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you ; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in he streets to win human admiration.In truth I tell you they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing ; your almsgiving must be secret and your Father who sees all that you do in secret will reward you.”
Jesus speaks of threes realities that are linked together : alms giving, fasting and prayer and he sends us a lovely invitation : find the right distance with other people, this is sharing; with God, this is prayer ; with oneself, this is fasting. The life that is given to us is especially something great, a great happiness, something marvelous, a time of joy to open up ourselves, going towards others in a spirit of sharing. We can dialogue with family members, brothers and sisters, with parents who want to tell us about their life experience. We are enriched with different points of view in deep discussions with our friends, is this not the best alms giving in our immediate surroundings? So together and truthfully we turn towards those who are less fortunate.
“And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites : they love t say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you;, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in and so pray top your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”
Turning towards God in a personal and community form of prayer demands the same opening and availability as with our brothers and sisters. Jesus can only act through the truthful heart of those who believe in Him! So their prayers are immediately answered. For indeed each one behaves in such a way as he has
decided in his heart, without restraint. God loves those who believe joyfully in Jesus and who place their joy in the gift of His Love. This deep determination finds its inspiration in a faith that is constant. We act before God from an inner life that is something quite beautiful. So we allow Our Heavenly Father’s gaze to invade us! Only the gift of Love that places deep down in our hearts allows us to appreciate the beauty of Jesus that is given to us to pray Our Father.
“And when you are fasting, do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do : they go about looking unsightly to let the people know they are fasting. In truth I tell you they have their reward. But when you fast, put scent on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that you do in secret will reward you.”
When we work, we do not seek glory nor to get glory from mankind, but only the justice that comes from God. Fasting begins by the sharing of the fruit of our work and our work is part of our prayer. We know that our actions can take place amidst the fire of contrarieties and so this is when we fast! We ask for God’s grace to be given generously and prudently. When something doesn’t go according to our plan, and we have a hard time finding our deep heart, this is when we fast! our Father sees in the secret of our heart, the mystery of the Passion of Jesus is celebrated there. And so we find Jesus in His Agony, accepting to no longer live turned in on ourselves, so we can act with the help of God! This is when we work at having God’s Will pass before our own.