Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward. If you give something to the poor, do not let your left know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.
When you fast do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face so that people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances; And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.
POINTS OF REFLECTION
Doing well to our fellow men is doing any good to the Father in heaven. Those deeds that are left unrewarded here on earth would be rewarded by the Father in heaven. But why happen in this way?
Brothers and sisters in Christ, God is a loving God and could not endure watching the sacrifices and heartbreaks of men without Him being involve. Remember God promise not to ever leave us alone. Hence, God always take more than half of our struggles, undertaking and frustration of this life. Seeing someone and having a heart to those who are in so much pain and difficulty is like seeing God’s presence in them. Helping a person in suffering is simply helping God of His suffering for God shares that suffering with him. And if the human counterpart of that sufferer cannot offer a reward to compensate that goodness, then the Father will prepare a reward for you in heaven.
Jesus said “If you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted, instead do it in a way like your left hand without knowing what your right hand is doing.” Meaning it’s better doing good in the joy of the Lord rather than doing something to be recognized in public. Tell you, blessings abound to those who are considered joyful giver.
Remember, whether we like it or not much of ourselves belong to this world that we are now living. Doing self denials like: giving support to the poor, doing fasting, doing penance and other acts of reparation out of our sins are like trading off our worldly lures, desires and belongings in exchange to the heavenly merit that God had prepared for us in Heaven.
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Doctor in Development Education ( Dev. Ed. D.), an all time educator as School Head and HEI Instructor.
