Cheerful, private, giving

Today’s readings present us with three qualities that are critical for our lives, as human beings and especially as Christians, but are not easy – especially nowadays.

For many of us, these are times of “cutting back”. It is hard to be generous.

Yet both of today’s readings remind us that we must be people who give.

We live in troubled times. It is hard to be cheerful.

For some of us, our lives of faith are not cheerful either. Isn’t religion supposed to be serious and penitential?

Yet in today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 9:6-11), Saint Paul says this:

Each must do as already determined,
without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.

And in today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18), our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says this:

When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

We live in an age of self promotion. Blow your own horn, we are told, if you want to be successful.

Proper communication regarding one’s work is necessary in the workplace and it is critical for us to give a good example to others, but in today’s Gospel our Lord warns us against looking for the approval of others in our deeds of faith and kindness:

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.