PURIFYING OUR MOTIVES FOR ETERNAL REWARDS

20160615 PURIFYING OUR MOTIVES FOR ETERNAL REWARDS

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading

2 Kings 2:1,6-14 ©

This is what happened when the Lord took Elijah up to heaven in the whirlwind: Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal, Elijah said, ‘Elisha, please stay here, the Lord is only sending me to the Jordan.’ But he replied, ‘As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you!’ And they went on together.

  Fifty of the brotherhood of prophets followed them, halting some distance away as the two of them stood beside the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water; and the water divided to left and right, and the two of them crossed over dry-shod. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Make your request. What can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ Elisha answered, ‘Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ ‘Your request is a difficult one’ Elijah said. ‘If you see me while I am being taken from you, it shall be as you ask; if not, it will not be so.’ Now as they walked on, talking as they went, a chariot of fire appeared and horses of fire, coming between the two of them; and Elijah went up to heaven in the whirlwind. Elisha saw it, and shouted, ‘My father! My father! Chariot of Israel and its chargers!’ Then he lost sight of him, and taking hold of his clothes he tore them in half. He picked up the cloak of Elijah which had fallen, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

  He took the cloak of Elijah and struck the water. ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ he cried. He struck the water, and it divided to right and left, and Elisha crossed over.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 30:20,21,24 ©

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

How great is the goodness, Lord,

  that you keep for those who fear you,

that you show to those who trust you

  in the sight of men.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence

  from the plotting of men;

you keep them safe within your tent

  from disputing tongues.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

Love the Lord, all you saints.

  He guards his faithful

but the Lord will repay to the full

  those who act with pride.

Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Col3:16a,17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,

find a home with you;

through him give thanks to God the Father.

Alleluia!

Or

Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 ©

Jesus said to his disciples:

  ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

PURIFYING OUR MOTIVES FOR ETERNAL REWARDS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 2 Kg 2:1, 6-14; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 ]

The world is more concerned about what we do than why we do what we do.  The motives are not analyzed.  Hence, today, people are more interested to create an impression than to build a reputation.  It is said that an impression can be created in a few minutes but to build a reputation, it takes a whole life.   People are easily impressed by externals.  But God does not judge the externals; He sees the interior of the heart.  What is more pleasing to God is not simply our action but the motive in whatever we do.  He is more concerned with our intentions of the heart rather than simply the action. Today, we are asked to deepen our virtues beyond superficial actions. We are called to examine why we do what we do.  The focus should not be on ourselves but on the other person.  Anything we do with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves is based on a selfish and self-centered motive.  We make use of others to serve our vanity and our pride.

For this reason, with respect to good works, do we perform them to gain attention?  Jesus said, “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; that is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration.  I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.”  Indeed, we have had our reward since what we are seeking is the admiration of men.  We should not be expecting more.  But if doing good works is truly directed at the other party, then we are acting selflessly.  This is what Jesus meant when He said, “But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”  What is this reward that the Father will give us?  It is a growth in virtue, especially generosity of heart, selflessness and humility.  These virtues gained are better than all the praises of humanity.  To know that we have acquired the heart of God means we are sharing in His life and joy.

Secondly, when it comes to a matter of prayer, again we need to ask who are we praying to and why we pray.  Jesus warns us, “And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them.  I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.”   So long as we are too conscious of what others think of us or we try to make an impression, we are no longer praying to God but to ourselves.  In this sense, we have had our reward.  For this reason, Jesus said that “when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”   Jesus is not saying that we cannot pray in public.  The point is that prayer is an intimate conversation with God, using our mind, heart and soul.  The secret chamber is the interior of our heart.  Prayer is truly of use when our minds are absorbed in conversation with the Lord and we are not thinking of anything else.  It is not the method of prayer that is important but it is a prayer of the heart and the mind when we are totally focused on the Lord, whether in verbal prayer, silent prayer, contemplative prayer or in singing.  Any prayer that comes from the heart is sincere, genuine and true.  Such prayers are pleasing to God.

Thirdly, when it is a question of fasting, Jesus said, “‘when you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting.  I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.”  If all we want to achieve in fasting is to let people know that we are holy, or for the purpose of boasting how disciplined we are or simply for the sake of slimming now, then this is all we get.  We cannot expect more.   The Lord gives us what we seek.  But real fasting is to bring ourselves closer to God, to yearn for Him and to be more focused on Him.  Fasting is meant to help us appreciate the sacrifices God has done for us and when it is fasting on behalf of someone or for a particular intention, it shows the depth of our love and sincerity.  God will grant us what we ask provided it is asked in humility, in earnestness and most of all, for others rather than for ourselves. Thus, the exhortation of Jesus is, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know that you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.” The reward is not a tangible reward but a purification of the heart.  We grow in closeness to God and our fellowmen.

Today, we have the exemplary example of Elisha.  Before his master was taken away to the Lord, he asked for a double share of his spirit.  In other words, he asked that he be a successor to Elijah.  As an heir, he is given a double share.  The Lord answered his request because Elisha was sincere in wanting to continue the work of Elijah to purify the nation and call the people to repentance.  So God gave him the spirit of prophecy when the cloak, a symbol of authority, was passed on to Elisha.  In striking the water of Jordan, God confirmed the prophetic ministry of Elisha by giving him the same authority and power to separate the waters of the river Jordan as Elijah did earlier.

Today, let us pray that our spiritual life be deepened. We pray for a purification of motives and that we become more conscious of why we do than just what we do.  If our intentions are good, the Lord will bless our efforts.  If our intention is focused on ourselves, then we can only expect the rewards given to us by the world, which do not last and do not give us lasting happiness.  But when the rewards are from God, we grow in truth and love and share in the joy of selfless giving and love.  So the choice is ours.  Do we seek the rewards and affirmation of the world or that of the Lord?  If from the world, then our life remains unstable, because we are influenced by the level of our popularity and we constantly seek the approval of the world.  But if it is from God, then no one can take away the joy and happiness we have, because it does not depend on the recognition of the world but on God who gives us the joy, peace, serenity and happiness of the heart that no one can give.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved