Daily Readings - Wed Jun 21 2023
2 Corinthians
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.8And 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.9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."10Now 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.11You 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
1"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.2"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.3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.5"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.6But 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.16"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.17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,18so 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.
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.