From the responsorial psalm: “Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones! The LORD keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 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.”
Teaching the disciples about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus instructs them to avoid doing these for the sake of being seen. The reward for public display of these practices is the adulation of others—an earthly reward. The kind of reward we ought to seek, Jesus tells us, has nothing to do with appearances for the sake of others but instead is about deepening our relationship with the Father, who sees what is hidden and will repay us. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we deepen not only our relationship with God but also work toward strengthening humility and compassion while living out our faith in practical ways to contribute to the well-being of others.
God, help me take to heart the words of Jesus, who says not to perform righteous deeds to win the praise of others. You know, Lord, how much I look to others to receive a loving glance but am called to love them as you love them and not for what they can do for me. Give me the grace to work for what sustains me rather than what fails to satisfy. Help me receive your love today so that I can be a means of giving it to others, not for praise but for the sake of your glory.
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.