Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
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.
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.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
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.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
“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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.”
They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.”
Ang Pagtulong sa Nangangailangan
Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18Kaya nga, kapag ikaw ay namamahagi sa mga kahabag-habag, huwag mong hipan ang trumpeta na nasa harap mo, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga mapagpaimbabaw sa mga sinagoga at sa mga daan. Ginagawa nila ito upang sila ay luwalhatiin ng mga tao. Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Tinanggap na nila ang kanilang gantimpala.
Kung mamahagi ka sa mga kahabag-habag, huwag mo nang ipaalam sa iyong kaliwang kamay kung ano ang ginagawa ng iyong kanang kamay. Sa gayon, maililihim ang iyong pamamahagi sa mga kahabag-habag. Ang iyong Ama na nakakakita sa lihim ay magbibigay ng gantimpala sa iyo nang hayagan.
1 comment:
It's Ash Wednesday. Welcome to the Church, You Hypocrites!
A story tells about a man who goes to a priest saying,"Father, I do not go to church because it is full of Hypocrites." The priest answered," My son, there's room for one more."
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten season,which prepares us for the celebration of Easter.It is a time to look deep into ourselves.
But did we really come to church with contrite hearts?Are we resolved not to violate God's laws again?
If you do not sincerely repent from your sins and to make amends, you are hypocrites of the first kind. Do not come to church just to receive the ashes. Ashes symbolizes repentance. Repentance sets in when we acknowledge that we have badly offended God in spite of his tender love for us.
Today, the doors of the churches are wide open to welcome us hypocrites, in the hope that we are ready to make a fresh start.
In the Gospel today, Jesus exhorts his listeners to avoid hypocrisy. Hypocrites loves to be recognized when performing their religious obligations. They participate in the liturgy for show, to earn credits and praises but never to be converted.
God looks into the heart. If you come to church today just to receive the ashes, without the intention of abandoning your sinful ways like drinking, stealing, cheating, lying, slandering, being abusive, etc,,you are a hypocrite.
If you just receive the ashes without sincere efforts to be reconciled with your brothers, sisters, and parents, you are really a damned hypocrite. You multiply your sins and your penalty will be heavier.
Before going to bed, as you wash your face remember this Greek saying, "Wash the iniquity, not only the face." If we all do this, we have just emptied our churches of hypocrites. We have just filled our churches with people beautiful within and without. We are all ready for Easter.
-Fr, Cielito Almazan, OFM
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