A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
Jesus tells the disciples about giving alms, praying, and fasting. He teaches that when you do good deeds, do not do them for the praise of others, but do them for the glory of God. He promises that if you do good deeds in secret, your Father in heaven will reward you. With prayer, for example, Jesus teaches that when you pray, do not do it like the hypocrites who pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Instead, go into your room, close the door, and pray to God the Father in secret, and your Father in secret will hear your prayer and repay you.
God, help me recognize throughout the day that you see everything I do and hear my thoughts, spoken or unspoken. Jesus teaches me to pray, fast, and give alms. Give me the grace today to do each of these, even in a small way, to keep your word. With the Gospel acclamation, I pray: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” Help me today, God, love you and keep your word.
Lord, help me in all my words and actions today look to you and give to others for the sake of your greater glory. Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.