2 Cor 9:6-11 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (2023)
We certainly won't like it when others think of us as a "show-off" or that we like to brag and boast about the things we do.
As much as we don't like it, yet we also cannot deny that we have this tendency or an urge and even impulsion to try to impress people and to give ourselves a good standing.
It happens in job interviews, in presentations, and even in ordinary conversations with others, we like to impress and to make an impact on others.
Some people may even be so obsessed with it that they will even exaggerate and even go to the extent of lying.
The 1st reading talks about sowing - thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you get.
But there is also another proverb - what you sow is what you get. When one sows lies in order to impress and to make an impact, then in time for reaping comes, others will know who is the liar.
Jesus taught about the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer and fasting in the gospel.
Yet, there is also the temptation to twist these three spiritual disciplines with our ulterior motives so as to make an impression and impact on others.
Hence Jesus cautioned us - everything we do must be done in secret, and God our Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward us.
Let us embark on the "secret way" and that is to avoid attracting attention to ourselves and to turn our attention to God.
In doing so, we will help others to turn their attention to "the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food" and to give thanks to Him and to give glory to Him in our humble and quiet ways.