Lenten Reflection - Feb 6

[my3angels]

"Do not be like the hypocrites," Jesus warns us, who when they perform righteous deeds fashion their on reward, the praise of others. Instead we must pray in secret, wash our faces when we fast, and , when we give alms, not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. Then our Father who sees in secret will repay us. Does the hypocrite go wrong because he longs for praise? Not exactly. Jesus says that on Judgment Day his true followers will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Unless we become like children, we shall not enter the kingdon of heaven; but what is more delightful in a child than the innocent desire to do well, that he might hear the praise of his father? The trouble with the praise-hungry hypocrite is that he mistakes goodness entirely. He is his own audience for praying and fasting. He is "good", and proves it by his long face. That gloom may be more prophetic than he knows. Sin obstructs our joy, but false goodness kills it in the bud, keeping us from ever learning of our desperate need. Such a man can pray and fast his way to hell. There are more enjoyable ways of getting there, surely! Let us repent, then, of empty sin, and empty goodness, in dust and ashes.

Reflection based on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Taken from The Magnificat Lenten Companion