If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret.
Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed.
They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone.
I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret;
and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.
When you fast, do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face so that people can see they are fasting.
I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful,
because you are not fasting for appea­rances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances.
And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

REFLECTION:
In an earlier passage, Jesus tells his disciples that they must allow their light to shine and that no one puts a lamp under a bu­shell basket.
Why is he now asking them to do good deeds in secret so only the heavenly Father can see them? The point, of course,
is not whether the good we do is seen by others or not; the point is whether our deed is motivated precisely by that:
having others behold them so that we can be affirmed, praised, and given the glory.
Good deeds done in secret for only the hea­venly Father to see result in an attitude and disposition of the heart that is truly desirable to Him,
because we do it only for his glory and only for the good of those whom we serve, those who are the recipient of our charity or kindness.
Then it belongs to the Father to give us our reward, according to his will.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020