Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting
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 be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Pagbabahagi, Panalangin, Pag-aayuno
Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18
1Mag-ingat kayo na huwag gawing pakitang-tao lamang ang inyong pamamahagi sa mga kahabag-habag. Kung magkagayon ay hindi kayo tatanggap ng gantimpala sa inyong Ama sa langit.
2Kaya nga, kapag ikaw ay namamahagi sa mga kahabag-habag, huwag mong hipan ang trumpeta na nasa harap mo, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga mapagpaimbabaw sa mga sinagoga at sa mga daan. Ginagawa nila ito upang sila ay luwalhatiin ng mga tao. Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. 3Kung mamahagi ka sa mga kahabag-habag, huwag mo nang ipaalam sa iyong kaliwang kamay kung ano ang ginagawa ng iyong kanang kamay. 4Sa gayon, maililihim ang iyong pamamahagi sa mga kahabag-habag. Ang iyong Ama na nakakakita sa lihim ay magbibigay ng gantimpala sa iyo nang hayagan.
5Kapag ikaw ay mananalangin, huwag mong tularan ang mga mapagpaimbabaw. Ito ay sapagkat gustong-gusto nilang manalangin habang nakatayo sa mga sinagoga at sa mga panulukang-daan upang makita sila ng mga tao. Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. 6Ngunit kung ikaw ay mananalangin, pumasok ka sa iyong silid. Kapag naisara mo na ang pinto, manalangin ka sa iyong Ama na nasa lihim. Ang iyong Ama na nakakakita sa lihim ang magbibigay sa iyo ng gantimpala nang hayagan.
16Kapag kayo ay mag-aayuno, huwag ninyong tularan ang mga mapagpaimbabaw na pinapalungkot ang kanilang mukha. Ito ay sapagkat pinasasama nila ang anyo ng kanilang mga mukha upang makita ng mga tao na sila ay nag-aayuno. Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala. 17Ngunit kung mag-aayuno ka, langisan mo ang iyong ulo at maghilamos ka ng iyong mukha. 18Sa ganoon, hindi makikita ng mga tao na nag-aayuno ka kundi ng iyong Ama na nasa lihim. Ang iyong Ama na nakakakita sa lihim ang magbibigay sa iyo ng gantimpala nang hayagan.
It is said that if you want to live forever, you must do three things: Plant a tree, write a book, and have a child. But what if somebody cuts down your tree? What if no one buys and reads your book? What if your child denies or forgets you? That will be the end of your forever. The problem with these three things is that they are all for your ego, which will never live forever.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we want to live forever or be truly alive, we can do three things: Pray faithfully to our God, make sacrifices for others, and share with the poor. These are not for our ego but for others. We will live forever in the hearts of those who have received our goodness. And when we do these things in secret, God sees them and blesses us unto eternal life.
Have you done a good deed lately? In private?
Why did Jesus single out prayer, fasting, and alms giving for his disciples? The Jews considered these three as the cardinal works of the religious life. These were seen as the key signs of a pious person, the three great pillars on which the good life was based. Jesus pointed to the heart of the matter. Why do you pray, fast, and give alms? To draw attention to yourself so that others may notice and think highly of you? Or to give glory to God?
The Lord warns his disciples of self-seeking glory – the preoccupation with looking good and seeking praise from others. True piety is something more than feeling good or looking holy. True piety is loving devotion to God. It is an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and obedience. It is a gift and working of the Holy Spirit that enables us to devote our lives to God with a holy desire to please him in all things (Isaiah 11:1-2).
What is the sure reward which Jesus points out to his disciples? It is communion with God our Father. In him alone we find the fullness of life and happiness, truth and beauty, love and joy. Saint Augustine, the great fourth century bishop of Hippo, wrote the following prayer in his Confessions: When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete. The Lord rewards those who seek him with humble and repentant hearts. He renews us each day and he gives us new hearts of love and compassion that we may serve him and our neighbor with glad and generous hearts. Do you want to grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Seek him expectantly in prayer, with fasting, and in generous giving to those in need.
“Lord Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love for you. Take from me all lukewarmness in meditating on your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace. Fill my heart with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity.”
May God have mercy on us all!
It is said that if you want to live forever, you must do three things: Plant a tree, write a book, and have a child. But what if somebody cuts down your tree? What if no one buys and reads your book? What if your child denies or forgets you? That will be the end of your forever. The problem with these three things is that they are all for your ego, which will never live forever.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we want to live forever or be truly alive, we can do three things: Pray faithfully to our God, make sacrifices for others, and share with the poor. These are not for our ego but for others. We will live forever in the hearts of those who have received our goodness. And when we do these things in secret, God sees them and blesses us unto eternal life.
Have you done a good deed lately? In private?
Why did Jesus single out prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for his disciples? The Jews considered these three as the cardinal works of the religious life. These were seen as the key signs of a pious person, the three great pillars on which the good life was based. Jesus pointed to the heart of the matter. Why do you pray, fast, and give alms? To draw attention to yourself so that others may notice and think highly of you? Or to give glory to God?
The Lord warns his disciples of self-seeking glory – the preoccupation with looking good and seeking praise from others. True piety is something more than feeling good or looking holy. True piety is loving devotion to God. It is an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and obedience. It is a gift and working of the Holy Spirit that enables us to devote our lives to God with a holy desire to please him in all things (Isaiah 11:1-2).
What is the sure reward which Jesus points out to his disciples? It is communion with God our Father. In him alone we find the fulness of life and happiness, truth and beauty, love and joy. Saint Augustine, the great fourth century bishop of Hippo, wrote the following prayer in his Confessions: When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete. The Lord rewards those who seek him with humble and repentant hearts. He renews us each day and he gives us new hearts of love and compassion that we may serve him and our neighbor with glad and generous hearts. Do you want to grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Seek him expectantly in prayer, with fasting, and in generous giving to those in need.
“Lord Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love for you. Take from me all lukewarmness in meditating on your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace. Fill my heart with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity.”
May God have mercy on us all!