In quiet corners, where no eyes can see,
We seek Your face, Lord, in humility.
Not for the gaze of man, but for Your eyes,
Our spirits reach for You, beyond the skies.
Disciplines of faith, not for show or fame,
But to draw nearer to Your holy name.
In prayer, in fasting, and in charity,
We seek not praise, but Your clarity.
Jesus reminds us, with a gentle call,
To love our God, and give to Him our all.
Not in loud fanfare or with boastful pride,
But in the secret place where You abide.
Let our hearts be pure, our intentions true,
Seeking only Your approval in all we do.
For in the end, it’s Your voice we long to hear,
“Well done, faithful servant,” drawing near.
REFLECTION:
"But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you." (Matthew 6:6)
The ultimate goal of our spiritual disciplines should be to draw closer to God, not to impress others.
Jesus remind us to prioritize a genuine relationship with God over outward appearances and practice our faith humbly, without seeking attention or praise from others. We are called to perform acts of charity, prayer, and fasting with a sincere heart, seeking God’s glory rather than human approval.
Let us focus on God alone.
Lord Jesus, guide us in our spiritual quest, To seek the Father’s heart and know what’s best. Not to impress others with outward show, But to draw closer to God, and in His love grow.
Help us prioritize a genuine bond, With our Creator, of whom we are fond. May our faith be practiced with humble hearts, And in our devotion, Your grace imparts.
In acts of charity, prayer, and fast, May our intentions be pure and steadfast. Seeking not the applause of human hands, But the glory of God, which forever stands.
Let us focus solely on You, dear Lord, And in every action, be in one accord. For the ultimate goal of our discipline, Is to be closer to You, free from sin. Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Proclamation of the Kingdom
TEACHING ABOUT ALMSGIVING / ABOUT PRAYER / ABOUT FASTING
Matthew 6:01-04/05-08/16-18
Gospel Acclamation
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
Gospel | Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 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. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Background:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
In these verses, Jesus teaches about the proper motivation behind religious practices. He emphasizes that acts of charity, prayer, and fasting should not be done for public recognition but should be performed with humility and a focus on God, who sees what is done in secret. This teaching encourages a sincere heart and a heavenward focus in our spiritual disciplines.
Learning Lessons:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 teaches us important lessons about our approach to religious practices:
Sincerity: We are called to perform acts of charity, prayer, and fasting with a sincere heart, seeking God’s glory rather than human approval.
Humility: These verses encourage us to practice our faith humbly, without seeking attention or praise from others.
Focus on God: The ultimate goal of our spiritual disciplines should be to draw closer to God, not to impress others.
These teachings remind us to prioritize a genuine relationship with God over outward appearances.
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot