Tuesday, June 18, 2019

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 19-06-19

2 Cor 9:6-11 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Doing a noble and charitable deed is a good thing.

And such deeds don't often go unnoticed. Somehow there will be some attention generated and people will come to know of it.

Of course we won't ask for the attention or the publicity for doing a noble or charitable deed.

But undeniably we will feel good about the compliments from the attention and publicity.

And that's where we have to watch ourselves. Because as much as we are modest about the attention and publicity, the compliments can create an expectation and even a longing for it. And it even become a yearning for it.

In the gospel, Jesus warned that even spiritual activities like prayer, fasting and alms-giving can be turned into something to elicit attention from others and turn into a publicity act.

And since the so-called "reward" is already received here on earth, then there will be no more reward in heaven.

The 1st reading quoted from scripture with this: He was free in alms-giving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.

We only need to know that whatever good we do, or when we pray privately, or fast or give alms, God is watching and He will give us our due rewards in heaven.

Moreover, whatever good and generous things we do must bear the fruit of thanksgiving to God.