Gospel: Mt 6:19–23
Do not store up treasures for yourself here on earth, where moth and rust destroy
it, and where thieves can steal it. Store up treasures for yourself with God, where no

Gospel: Mt 6:7–15
When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they believe that the more they say, the more chance
they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done

Gospel: Mt 6:1–6, 16–18
Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in
heaven. When you give 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.

Relflection:

Some people make a show of their holiness. They go to extraordinary
lengths to impress others of their piety. They may gain attention just because
of the difficulty they have undergone to accomplish a spiritual feat, but their
holiness is skin deep because they are contrived. The heart is not humbled
and their sense of selfimportance becomes an obstacle to a loving and
sound relationship with God. It is in this context that Jesus reminds His
follower not to preoccupy themselves with display of spiritual asceticism for
public consumption. They should do it in private and hide it from others as much
as possible because they do it only for God and no one else.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021

Gospel: Mt 5:43–48
You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your
enemy. But this I tell you: love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so
that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both