Do Not Do Acts of Righteousness In Order To Be Seen.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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You could arrange today’s gospel in two columns: the heading of the column on the left is “IN SECRET”; the heading of the column on the right is “IN PUBLIC”. There can be no doubt that a deep and truthful interior life is necessary to the follower of Jesus. Just as a tree will be blown over by the first storm if its roots haven’t been sunk deep into the soil, so too the disciple will be overcome by trials and temptations unless grounded solidly in faith, hope and love of God and neighbor. We are like trees in that respect. If we identify ourselves with the public part of life “above ground”, we will have no profound resources for spiritual growth, and will not be able to withstand either the storms or the droughts.

The interior life is not an escape from the world. Many people who seem to be “contemplatives” are either introspective individuals, or people trying to escape the trials and tribulations of their everyday existence. True contemplatives recognize the importance of the interior life, but are closely involved in the life of the community that surrounds them. The German mystic Meister Eckhart wrote, “It is not that one should give up, neglect, or reject one’s inner life, but in it, with it, and from it, one should learn to act in such as way as to allow the inward to break into activity, and to draw the activity into inwardness, and in this way, learn to act in freedom. Whether reading, praying, or working, we should be aware of the working of the Spirit within us, and act accordingly. On the other hand, if the outer activity tends to impede the inner, one should follow the inner. It is best when both operate together as one, for then, we are cooperating with God.”
Fr. Donagh O'Shea, S.J.