Schegge di vangelo a cura di don Stefano Bimbi
Venerdì Santo a cura di Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

Don’t let your guard down

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. (Matthew 6: 1)

Schegge di vangelo 17_02_2021

And Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6: 1-6; 16-18)

If we do not reliably practice humility, we risk being caught off guard by life’s most important events, as we have lost faith and the importance of prayer. Let us never let our guard down against the temptation of vainglory which urges us to do good not for love of God but to please others.