Buy One Get One – BOGO

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14; Ps 31:20, 21, 24; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Double or Nothing

A little modern economics in today’s reflection.

Many grocery stores have Buy One – Get One (BOGO) sales every week. I so look forward to this especially enticing form of capitalistic marketing. You can either double the purchase or skip the purchase. Double or nothing. Believe it or not, to teach charity a common technique is to teach the person to pray for someone else who wants the same type of thing or outcome.

• If you want to get pregnant, pray for all women who wish to get pregnant.
• If you want food, pray for all without food.
• If you want peace, pray for all, peace.

It is not a perfect method to learn charity but it’s a great start. Reinforces: I am not the only one with needs, wishes and desires for all the naturally good things in life, and, there are plenty of people who have the same needs and even in deeper scale of need than my own because I choose to see their needs.

Then we can shout as the psalmist does with greater conviction: Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Summary

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

Righteous deeds of Alms, Prayer and Fasting are the three categorical deeds. They are right to do. But not for you alone.

Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”

Reflection

Four times in our gospel portion, Jesus uses the word secret. Give alms in secret. Make a prayer in secret. Fast in a hidden way. The Father sees in secret will repay and the Father who is hidden will repay. The secret places are the recesses of the heart. From the hidden place of the heart begin your doing.

Personal Reflection

It is an impractical matter to be secretive. Certainly there are times where you should be anonymous in your actions. Before I act I take a breath and ask, who also needs this thing, this action, this help?

Then BOGO!

Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”

May whatever gifts you’ve given me, be given to others – twice as much, twice as many, twice the strength!!

First Reading

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”

Responsorial

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

Gospel

Give alms, pray and fast.

• Your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
• Pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
• But when you fast, [do not] appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Secret and hidden like within the hearts of Elijah and Elisha.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry