WEDNESDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JUNE 16, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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. “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. “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 others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

REFLECTION

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

Where is your inner room? In the 2015 movie War Room, a very successful couple with a beautiful daughter have inner turmoil beneath the facade of happiness. Their marriage is falling apart. The husband (Tony) is rough, verbally abusive, uncaring and on the verge of having an affair. The wife (Elizabeth) meets a dear sweet lady (Miss Clara) who notices there is a problem and advises Elizabeth on the power of prayer. She shows her a special closet where she goes to pray, saying, "In order to stand up and fight the enemy, you need to get on your knees and pray."

Pray, fast and almsgiving are the cardinal works given to us. Jesus went to the heart of the matter and asked, "Why do you pray, fast and almsgive? To draw attention to yourself, or to give glory to God?"

Yes, we all have a favorite place where we pray, feel closer to God. Usually it is a quiet place so that when we meditate in silence we speak with the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Our mind is enlightened, and we see the truth. And then, God who always answers our prayers, lets us see what we could not see, lets us understand what we had heard and accomplish the impossible.

So, in our prayer life, do we want to get closer to God's will and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us or do we want people to notice us praying?

"A Christian who is led by the Holy Spirit has no difficulty in leaving the good of this world, to run after those of Heaven; he knows the difference between them. " (PAPA Top Secret II, The Secret to Eternal Life). And with this first step, we can fast and give alms not to get what we pray for, but to allow the Holy Spirit free reign over our souls.

God Bless You