Daily Reflection for Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Peace and blessing, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061720.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First reading: 2Kings 2: 1, 6-14
Responsorial: Psalm 31: 20. 21, 24
Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18
Our reflection on Wednesday's reading:
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly father.’” Matthew 6:1
“Do not be like the hypocrites.” The origin for the word hypocrite is from the word for actor, one who pretends to be who they are not. The evidence for hypocrisy is when a person's lifestyle, words, and actions belie their public presentation.
I think the origin of hypocrisy comes from that part of us that desires to be more than we are. And I believe this leads to the deadly vice of pride. Nothing seems to separate us from union with our creator and our Lord more than efforts to prove ourselves worthy, to prove ourselves better than others. Jesus did not come to save the worthy. He came to heal and save those of us who are broken. Yet, so much inside us does not want to acknowledge our brokenness. We are groomed by our culture to look good, to hide our faults, and to become actors on the stage of life.
Thus we develop a belief deep inside, that despite our performance we are not really good enough, not really lovable. Jesus taps on the window of our pride and says, “I see you, I know you, and I love you as you are.” Does this mean we have no reason to change?
No. It means that by our own resources, our attempts to change often lead to failure and/or greater hypocrisy. The good news is we cannot help but change when we accept the depth of God's love for each one of us. We cannot resist responding to this love by letting God take the wheel of our lives and lead us into “green pastures.” With this acceptance of God's love comes a desire to share this redeeming love with others.
Humility allows us to grow and change in ways that ego and pride never could. This humility of seeing ourselves through the eyes of Jesus brings us into the Father’s kingdom here on earth.
PS: Beware! It is easy to spot the hypocrisy of others; it's a way of distracting ourselves from deeper self-awareness. It is the log in our own eyes that needs our attention. As we so humble ourselves in honesty and humility, the Great Physician will heal us.
Prayer:
Lord, you are our rock and our salvation. Help us to trust fall into the arms of your eternal love. Amen
Ed Mitchell