(Audio)
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
We are called to do good for its own sake rather than for how it makes us feel about ourselves. We are called to disregard out self-image. It doesn't matter that we seem to be people who fast, pray, and give alms. It matters that we actually do these things. The goal is love, not the appearance of love. The world is really good at the appearance of love. But true love in word and deed is rare indeed. Feelings and the desire for self-image and control us. If the good to which God is calling us doesn't happen to correspond to something which feels good to our pride we often allow ourselves to ignore it. Our pride can therefore keep us from accomplishing much of anything.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
There is, however, a reward for which we hope when we do good works. When we love it is legitimate to hope to be joined more and more to the God who is love. The works themselves are impossible without his grace in us.
You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,
which through us produces thanksgiving to God.
As we allow that grace to be unleashed in us we do experience more and more the joy of union with the Father who sees in secret, there with us in our inner room with facade at last surrendered.
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
It isn't about us or our effort. If we find ourselves struggling it is likely that we are not yet truly trying to please the Father who sees in secret.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
He isn't asking for some heroic effort that we can ultimately feel prideful about. He is asking us to desire his will above all things. His person, after all, is a reward beyond anything the world can give.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
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