Todays Gospel March 5 Introduction What matters most is that God sees what we do. The world tells us to make sure that we get the proper acclaim for what we do, but it is the opposite when it comes to working in the Kingdom of God. All the glory should be given to the Lord. If we keep it to ourselves, we are in danger of developing a messianic complex, i.e., we think we can save ourselves, or worse, save others. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts. 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 alms giving 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.” Reflection and sharing from Fr. Joel Jason of kerygmafamily Ash Wednesday FULLY ALIVE! King Mousaka is well-known for his legendary cooking talent. Royalties from neighboring tribes travel far and wide to taste his delicious creations, especially his grilled lamb. Two ministers went to the king’s palace with excitement to sample his cooking. To prepare their palate, he served them a small portion of salad with greens freshly picked from his garden. Minister 1 finished it with delight as he anticipated better things to come. Minister 2 threw it away saying, “I don’t want this. I came here for the real thing, not this measly appetizer!” Shocked and insulted, King Mousaka ordered Minister 2 thrown out, saying, “My appetizer is just as much my creation as is my grilled lamb. To reject it is to reject me as well.” It’s Ash Wednesday once more. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, 40 days marked by self-denial and renunciation as preparation for Holy Week, where we commemorate the passion and death of the Lord. Self-denial and renunciation of the world is a legitimate path to holiness. Just a word of caution here. The season of Lent calls us to self-denial and renunciation not because the self and the world are bad. They are good, but we are cautioned that they are so good we treat them as God. Genuine self-denial and renunciation should never be done out of an attitude of contempt and disdain for the natural goodness of things. This spirituality creates stoics out of God’s children. That is not God’s joy. The saints know this. St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Genuine self-denial and renunciation is practiced in an attitude of holy detachment, which says, “This world is beautiful. I will rejoice in it, but I will not be possessed by it because more is to come. If creation is good, how much better is the One who created it?” That is the key. Minister 1 enjoyed the appetizer with an awareness that the better part is coming. He rejoiced in it but he knows it is not the be all and end all of his visit to the palace. That is why the King was delighted to give him more.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:39:30 +0000
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