Righteous Deeds

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Psalm 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Summary

Give alms, pray, and fast (MT 6:2, 5, 16). It is important to understand the teachings that follow this teaching in the gospel of Matthew are subordinate examples of these three. Almsgiving, prayer and fasting are the principal righteousness virtues and are the principle of a divine centered life.

To repeat. “Give alms, pray, and fast” are at the top of the heap of actions among all actions as Jesus defines righteousness (right relation). In typical Jewish writing style, the center of these is prayer (in the middle of the list). In our gospel portion today, Jesus is pointing out that our motivations regarding these things is the measure by which we are to understand ourselves and, when self-serving, the inferior outcomes (no recompense, no divine reward x2).

But let’ spend a moment.

Prayer is surrounded by Alms and Fasting. Meaning prayer is most powerful when one is predisposed to give Alms and Fast.

1. Alms – give generously from the bounty the Lord has provided you.
2. Fasting – discipling the appetitive self, unite our life to Christ’s suffering and to Christ’s humility.

Then prayer, so centered, can reach its highest seat – the Inner Self. Here within us is the meeting place of God. Your inner room, close the door to anything else, and talk to your Father in secret.

Matthew’s Parables and Teachings

The gospel of Matthew is pride of place in the Holy Bible being first among the four Gospels. Why?

The Gospel of Matthew was the most referenced among the four gospels by the Early Church Fathers and most specifically the Apostolic Fathers (first of the first). Matthew is the richest in parables and teachings. The collection we have of homilies and letters from the early Church Father make very good use of the gospel of Matthew.

Be Kind to Yourself

In our time we concentrate our appreciation of these parables and teachings in continuous readings – structurally sound but maybe a bit too concentrated? I think it can overwhelm those who are struggling with righteousness. So allow me to offer three re-centering points.

1. Mass, in particular Sunday Mass, is the memorial of the love of God and the sharing of himself completely, on the Cross and in the Breaking of the Bread. These communions with the Lord are to uplift you and reassure you the foundational love that is God.
2. Solemnities. Even as we studies the You have heard … But I say to you… we were treated to the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. And now during the righteousness teachings continuous readings we have the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. These beautiful recollections of divine love and humans in the care of the Lord are reassuring!
3. Memorials. Remembering the Saints who struggled just like us. How they got it right, and sometimes got it wrong, fell down and kept getting back up again – trusting in the Lord.

Reflection

We don’t need trumpets. We don’t need to look gloomy. We don’t need to be seen by others. It really is something else.

1. Do I have things I can share without becoming a burden to others myself?
   OK, so share.
2. Do I have directed my efforts to my own comfort and satisfaction?
   OK, so allow the comfort of others to be more important once in a while.
3. Do I pray… take up my position and speak this prayer to myself (LK 18:11 variance) for myself and without the conditioners noted above?
   OK, so take a bulletin home with the Prayers of the Faithful and those who are sick… and pray for them.

Personal Reflection

Three times Jesus says: And your Father who sees in secret will repay you (the third a slight variant). He’s not asking you to abase yourself. He’s asking you to share yourself so as to allow the Lord to share with you. Make your prayers powerful with Alms and fasting as the seats to the Left and the Right of Jesus.

Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061825.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry