Gospel: 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.”
- alms: anything given as charity, something (as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor; money, food or other donations given to the poor or needy.
- Who do I see as they poor? What do I have that can be freely giving to relieve their needs?
- secret: kept from knowledge or view; marked by the habits of discretion, not acknowledged.
- What are the intentions behind my good deeds? Who am I hoping to have acknowledge them?
- hidden: being out of sight or not readily apparent (concealed); obscure, unexplained, undisclosed.
- Something hidden, or private, creates intimacy with whomever we do share it. Who, or with what, do I share my hidden self? God, my spouse, sinful habits I'm embarrassed to ask for help remedying?
Almsgiving doesn't only include monetary gifts - anything freely given to relieve the poor. We are surrounded by poor, poor in hope, poor in joy, poor in faith... Psalm 50 (read at Mass on March 1st) says "Offer to God praise as your sacrifice". We praise Him more by sharing our gratitude and love with Him, and those around us who need it most, than by somberness because it's "Ash Wednesday". He gives us Lent as a chance to come closer to His heart, and His heart wants to come closer to all men's hearts, ALL the poor.
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