Silent Action

Purity of intentions.

1 “[But] 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[b] 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 almsgiving 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. 7 [c]In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.[d] 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.-Matthew6:1-8

Now that election season is brewing, one politician would like to make his plans indirectly (sic) known. He did this by showcasing his 'service, generosity and kindness' (sic) on TV and radio ads. All acts of charity must have radio and TV coverage to convey the message that he is the one. It is so sad that charity - a noble virtue - can be twisted by some for personal and selfish interests. Today, Jesus is teaching us about purity of intentions and silent actions. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting should be done with the most sincere and noble intentions. If we can do well when people are looking, we should equally do well when people are not looking. But most especially, we should do prayer, almsgiving and fasting silently and discreetly.

Image courtesy: Brooklyn Museum

We can do it!

Repent and believe in the gospel.

12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, 13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.14 After John had been arrested,[a] Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The Desert made Jesus very vulnerable. Even though He is God-made-man, He was every inch human like us during His active ministry. Since He was vulnerable after fasting for forty days, perhaps Jesus yearned and would have liked a little bread and water to quench His hunger and thirst. Hey, isn't it true that Esau exchanged his birthright when he was really hungry? But Jesus is different, He never lost His focus on His mission and His relationship with the Father. And through His experience, Jesus is saying to us that we can do it too. We can say No to the lures of the world and the flesh! We can do it! We can live happily with God alone. We can reject evil.

Image courtesy: artist 

Fasting, Joy and Thanksgiving

Time for joy.

14 Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.[a]-Matthew9:14-15

Jesus said it right, why must His disciples fast when the much awaited Messiah has come? Why fast when the purpose and reason for fasting is with us? But Jesus ascended into Heaven and He continues to dwell here with us, among us and within us. Therefore, the focus is no longer in fasting but in joy and thanksgiving that God is with us. However, Jesus never said we must not fast, thus, we continue it still not only externally (one full meal), but also internally. Fasting's real purpose is a connection to the Lord, a detachment from the self, and true reconciliation with God.

Image courtesy: artist