“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
matthew 6:5
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.”
Reflection
Jesus tells his disciples that when they give alms, pray, or fast, they should not be like the hypocrites and put on an appearance to show they are fasting, praying, or giving alms. The Father who sees what the disciples do in secret will repay them; they do not need to make all their deeds public.
Sometimes we put on a show, just like the hypocrites in today’s Gospel, by bragging about the various holy things we are doing in regard to our faith. We might do certain things to show others how faithful we are or make a snide remark about how we pray a certain way. Jesus doesn’t want us to boast, but rather pray and be faithful in secret.
Our faith life shouldn’t be about showing others how faithful we are; when we do that, our acts of faith aren’t holy, they are simply vain. Jesus wants our faith to be sincere. This is best achieved in private, where we can become truly humble before the Lord.
Are you humble in your prayer and faith life, or do you tend to make your faith a public affair? Ask the Lord for the grace to always approach him with humility and love, not looking to others for approval, but only him.
Saint of the Day
St. Gregory Barbarigo: 1625 – 1697
“Be shepherds, not overlords; be teachers, not judges; be servants, not masters.”
St. Gregory
The Healing Word 