Daily Readings - Wed Jun 21 2023
2 Corinthians
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:9As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Matthew
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the sincerity of our actions. The second reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that our generosity should be cheerful and selfless, trusting in God's abundance. The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to examine our motivations, warning against performing good deeds for human recognition rather than genuine devotion. Jesus emphasizes that true righteousness is done in secret, where only God sees, promising that our Father will reward such sincerity.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian communities. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, encourages generosity and trust in God's providence, while Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus teaching on true piety. Both readings highlight the importance of humility and sincerity in our spiritual lives, contrasting genuine faith with hypocritical displays of righteousness.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to reflect on our intentions. Do we perform good deeds to be seen, or do we act out of love for God and neighbor? Let us cultivate a humble and sincere heart, trusting that our true reward comes from God. By doing so, we align our actions with His will, living a life that truly honors Him.