Word to the Wise
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 - Wednesday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 9:6-11 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." [Matthew]
I have mentioned that the Sermon on the Mount not only speaks about external behavior, but internal motivations. In today's passage from that "catechism of Christian life," speaks not to revenge or enemies but to good deeds done for the wrong reason. This is something the Old Testament prophets often denounced, so it would not be new to Jesus' listeners. Three fundamental religious activities are mentioned: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Fasting was not required by the Mosaic Law except during mourning and for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, but the Pharisees had adopted it as a regular ascetical practice, and were rather public about it.
Recognition for good deeds can be a mixed thing. Certainly we want to encourage people to pray, to be healthy in their consumption and to be generous in giving. On the other hand, it is clear that some business companies give to various causes because it is good public relations! The names of various generous benefactors appear on buildings all over the Texas Tech University campus where I walk every morning!
The Sermon on the Mount challenges us all to a healthy self-appraisal of our motives for all good deeds. AMEN