Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
According to our gospel reading for today Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). Jesus was calling on his listeners to do the right things for the right reasons, to give, pray, and fast not to be recognized by others, but in order to give glory to God.
It all comes down to intent. Jesus would rather us pray in private if the only reason we do so is to call attention to ourselves. If we are going to pray in public we must strive to call attention to God. Generosity can be contagious, but if we are giving money simply to earn favor with others we have missed the point. Acts of devotion can inspire others and encourage them in their own faith, but if all we want is a pat on the back we are misguided. God welcomes our prayer, our giving, our devotion but as signs of a right relationship with God, not as publicity stunts.
Years ago, just as mobile calling was becoming more prevalent, there was a TV commercial in which a man made quite a production out of talking on his cell phone. He pretended to talk to a stock broker but in reality he had dialed his home number. On the other end of the line the man’s daughter could be heard yelling, “Mom, Dad’s doing it again!” Of course it was all an act put on for the benefit of those seated nearby. If our prayers, our generosity, our acts of devotion leave us disconnected from God and not attuned to God’s will for our lives then we need to hang up and redial. Otherwise it’s a wasted call.
Prayer: Lord, help us to live to your glory and not to our own. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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