June 21, 2017 Wednesday
11th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 2 Cor 9:6-11 Gospel: Mt 6:1–6, 16–18
Jesus said to his disciples, “Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness 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 seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people. I assure you, they have been already paid in full.
If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand 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 seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 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 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.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
In the Book of Leviticus we read, “By everlasting ordinance, it shall be a most solemn Sabbath for you, on which you must mortify yourselves” (Leviticus 16:31). This was the only fast the Law prescribed within the year, but many Jews did it twice a week. Many Pharisees did it more often because they found in this practice the chance to trumpet their spirituality. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us that fasting is for loftier reasons than flaunting one’s spiritual exercises to win human admiration.
True fasting is not a show that requires public participation. If ever an audience is required, it should only be God. Our fasting today still involves rituals, such as, imposition of ashes on the forehead every Ash Wednesday, and abstinence during Lent. But these are necessary triggers designed to dispose the person to the workings of the Spirit.
Because the Spirit plays a crucial role in fasting, prayer is indispensable. Without prayer fasting loses balance and tilts to the side of externalities that deprive the Spirit of jurisdiction. Where fasting goes with prayer the Spirit works best with fruits that last. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM
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