YEAR B: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)
YEAR B: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET WILL REWARD YOU
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
(Mt. 6:1-6, 16-18) Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
In the day’s Gospel Jesus teaches about praying, fasting and giving alms. This is read by the Church during Ash Wednesday to usher the Season of Lent, a season to look at oneself and how one can advance his relationship with God. Jesus cautions us to take care not to do things for show. This has been the guilt of the Pharisees. Praying, fasting, and doing acts of charity are suppose to be pious acts. However, when done for the sake of being praised, they are counterproductive spiritually.
The Father knows what we are doing. Only He needs to know. The Father is the source of all graces. He grants graces to those who are worthy. He listens to our prayer. He fills our emptiness in fasting. And He cannot be outdone in generosity. While with fellow human beings we get praised for what we have done, God does more by making us better and gracing us more.
Jesus reminds us to be pure in spirit. We should act with the right intentions. We must admit that at times we pray for the sake of praying. We fast just to comply. And we give to be acknowledged. When done this way, we just veer away from God and become more self-conscious and selfish. It is a tragedy that works of sanctification has led us to damnation instead. Let us recover the true spirit of these three great Christian actions. Pray, fast, and give alms from the heart.