Word to the Wise
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - Wednesday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 9:6-11 and Matt 6:1-6, 16-18]WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA (S.J.) [2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and Matthew 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." [Matthew] Motives are important. They reflect the state of the heart. This is one of the most important features of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. The Law of Moses largely concerned itself with external behavior, as exemplified in the Pharisees. The Sermon on the Mount goes to the heart and the motives for behavior, even when the behavior does not take place! The desires of the heart can involve us in great good and great evil without anyone knowing about it except ourselves! Jesus names three important practices: prayer, fasting and alms giving. He notes that when these are done with the idea that praise and prestige will be gained, the gestures are useless in terms of holiness (even if the recipient of the alms will benefit.). Does this mean that we should not set a good example in our lives of faith? No, because Jesus elsewhere in the Sermon on the Mount tells us to let our good deeds shine forth. When a good deed is done for the wrong reason, the whole matter is tarnished. Being honest about our motives is important. (We can see this process in action when we honor benefactors by placing their names prominently in a public space or name a building after them.). The Sermon on the Mount reminds us how faith touches on all aspects of life. AMEN
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