something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to
be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be praised by people.
I assure you, they have their reward. 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.

Reflect

“Give alms and fast.” Today’s Gospel is of two parts: on almsgiving (cf. Mt. 6:1-6) and on
fasting (cf. Mt. 6:16-18). As Christians, we are expected to give alms, and also, to fast.
However, good deeds like almsgiving and fasting can be done with a wrong
motivation: to show off. Jesus cautions us of such tendency to do good acts for the wrong
motive. Moreover, let us bear in mind that the heavenly Father always sees us in and out.
God is the one who will reward us for the good deeds done with the right motivation. Further,
the Greek verb used here to refer to the hypocrites is apechō “to receive in full.” The verb
is related to an act of issuing a receipt for what has been paid in full. But the verb used
to refer to the reward coming from God is apodidōmi, which primarily means “to give out”
or “to yield.” God’s grace yields abundantly when we do good acts with sincerity. Hence,
God’s reward is not transactional but transformational. This is because when we do good
deeds without hypocrisy, we open ourselves up to God’s grace, which in turn makes us
better individuals.

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