“And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:18

We live in a world where it’s so easy to see what others are doing. Go online. Open your social media feed. Anything that anyone wants you to see is posted. You see how other people’s vacations seem more fun. Their careers seem more successful. Their businesses seem to be thriving. Their relationships seem happier. This can attract comparison and envy. Their source of joy becomes your source of despair.

If you see that someone’s prayer life seems deeper or “holier” and you start to feel unworthy and not good enough, close your eyes.

Shut out all the noise. Hear God’s message for you in the silence. He knows that you are grappling with prayer. He knows that you want to be a better Christian. He knows that you’re feeling so spiritually dry and that you wonder if He even hears you. He knows.

God listens to your seemingly inadequate prayers and hears your beautiful worship. He sees you. In the quietness and humility of your hidden prayer, God is pleased. Kitty D. Ferreria (kittydulay@yahoo.com)

Reflect: God is happy to see your desire to please and love Him back.

Lord, refresh my prayer life.

St. Paulinus of Nola, pray for us.

A person’s goodness depends on his character and intention. Elijah grants Elisha’s wish for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah believes in Elisha and trusts that he will use his gift for everyone’s benefit, not only his own. It is a sad experience when you talk to someone who is only concerned about himself or herself. They live a curtailed life because they do not know how to share and relate with others.

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14

1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 6 Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on together. 7 Fifty of the guild prophets followed, and when the two stopped at the Jordan, stood facing them at a distance. 8 Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” 10 “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” 11 As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! My father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. 13 Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. 14 Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

P S A L M 

Psalm 31:20, 21, 24

R: Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

19 [20] How great is the goodness, O Lord, which you have in store for those who fear you, and which, toward those who take refuge in you, you show in the sight of the children of men. (R) 20 [21] You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the plots of men; you screen them within your abode from the strife of tongues. (R) 23 [24] Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones! The Lord keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. (R)

We all know what this is about — doing good but putting them on display for people not only to see, but to acknowledge, if not applaud. This is called hypocrisy. This word, unfortunately, has been abused and heaped repeatedly on priests and bishops over the past two years. The Church, haters say, is made up of a bunch of hypocrites, preaching one thing and doing another.

This reflection is not designed to refute the blanket and unfair accusation. All of us, and not just us priests, at one time or another, deserve to be called as such. Who did not fall victim to that human desire to do things not really for the glory of God, but for other ulterior personal motives? Who among us were not tempted to do some really great things, but for mixed motives, both good and bad? Who among us did not secretly covet appreciation or applause from people at least some of the time?

The Lord referred to the famous three acts of piety for the observant Jew of His time: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. He did not rail against those three. Neither did He condemn those who engage in them. But He did make an issue about people who do them for sheer public display. Yes, He condemned ostentatiousness, for those acts, when used only for such a worldly and selfish motive, were no longer worthy of being called pious acts. Simply put, they were not meant for God, but for the doer of those acts.

Back in the day, our formators in the seminary had a word for hypocritical seminarians who only did things for show, that is, for approval and merit — servus oculi or servant of the eye. This applies to all who only do things when observed by approving superiors.

The Lord has an interesting advice: “Go to a windowless room and pray.” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB 

------- REFLECTION QUESTION ------

What motivates you to do good?

Dearest God, purify my motives. In everything, may my only motivation be for Your glory. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________