Word to the Wise
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Wednesday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 and Matt 6:1-6, 16-18]Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
These words from the Sermon on the Mount could strike terror into the heart of any fund raiser trying to find money for a major building project! Part of the job is to get people to sponsor various parts of the project by promising that the building or park or room or even a piece of furniture will have a place where the name of the donor will be prominently displayed! I live in Houston, TX, where there is an incredible complex of hospitals. Everywhere I look, there is a name on the side of a building that indicates that the generosity of some individual made that building possible. Fund raisers call that "naming rights!" Conspicuous charity is part of the psychology of fund raising. It encourages others who see these buildings to consider doing the same! These are, indeed, righteous deeds that are performed so that people may see them! A tremendous amount of good is accomplished through the generosity of these donors, so that leaves us wondering about the admonition quoted above. Note that this admonition includes prayer and fasting as well!
The context remains that of exceeding the the faith and practices of the scribes and Pharisees. The core of this context is that Jesus extends the standard to include interior motivation, not simply external observance. Love of God and neighbor remains at the center, and love comes from within and is manifested in external behavior. The admonition points to the reason for any behavior. Jesus is not advising against alms, prayer or fasting. He is pointing to the reason why some people would take something very good and use it as a way of self-promotion. The scribes and Pharisees were interested in power and recognition and not in righteous deeds.
The Sermon on the Mount helps us to recognize that our motives are important and that they are often "mixed." Good fund raisers know that altruism and pride are a potent mix. Jesus warns us that keeping that mix properly directed to love of God and neighbor is the mark of a true disciple. AMEN
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