Don't be a hypocrite! - One of my favorite gospel in the Holy Bible
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6:1-6.16-18.
Commentary of the day :
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 150
Fasting, prayer, almsgiving
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.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
Commentary of the day :
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 150
The Epicureans, who did not hope for any life beyond the grave and only knew the pleasures of the flesh, held to this expression: «Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die» (1Cor 15,32)... But Christians, for whom another and happier life is to begin after death, should keep well away of saying such things. In fact, bear in mind this truth: «Tomorrow we die», but continue: «Let us fast and pray for death may come tomorrow.»
However, I require yet something else, a third condition, and I don't want to pass over in silence what we should observe above everything else: let your fasting serve to satisfy the hunger of the poor. If you cannot fast then set yourself all the more to feeding the one whose satisfied hunger will win you pardon. So this is what Christians should be saying: «Let us fast and pray, let us give to the poor, for tomorrow we die.»
However, I require yet something else, a third condition, and I don't want to pass over in silence what we should observe above everything else: let your fasting serve to satisfy the hunger of the poor. If you cannot fast then set yourself all the more to feeding the one whose satisfied hunger will win you pardon. So this is what Christians should be saying: «Let us fast and pray, let us give to the poor, for tomorrow we die.»
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