[ Today's Readings ]
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.
Are we really OK with loving even with no affirmation? We saw yesterday that the Father makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He loves us even while we are sinners. We tend to have a mercenary sort of love that is mostly interested in what we can get out of it and a little bit interested in actually doing some good.
What are we to do?
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
In one sense, it is a matter of focus. We need not feel guilty for feeling good about doing good acts. But we don't focus on that feeling. We focus instead on the good we do, one hand at a time. We don't look for the opportunities to be acknowledged before others. Yet we do not shun the acknowledgement when it comes. Then again, we do not dwell on it. This is how we keep our right and left hand from getting so carried away about the good they did that they forget entirely about the good that remains to be done.
We need to learn to seek no additional incentives to the rewards built into the acts themselves. When we pray relationship with God ought to be our reward, rather than being seen by others to be good Christians, rather than smug self-image.
When we fast we unleash blessings on the world and allow God to transform us. That is, is long as we aren't doing it just so we can feel good about it. That sort of misses the point of fasting. We enter into solidarity with the sorrow of the world. This is not something we want to feel smug about. Rather, we embrace the world for it's own sake. Jesus takes up the cross and most people regard it as utter failure. He clearly does this for our sake. There is no pride in it for him. We must be prepared for the good we do to be so regarded.
Clearly we can't do this on our own. Our egos are way too attached to the rewards involved. If we try to cut ourselves off from them on our own we will quickly abandon all efforts at loving and doing good. We need what Elisha needs.
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
As we behold the power of God who cares for his people we become confident enough to love without counting the cost.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
We find that God himself gives us the power to divide the waters of ego and cross through to eternal life.
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
This is the comfort we can take if we hope in the LORD. He sets impossible tasks before us. But he does so only so that we will trust in him and let him love us as much as he desires.
How great is the goodness, O LORD,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
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