Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, in this period of Lent, the Church invites us to turn our hearts to you. Give us the grace so that when we hear your voice, we do not harden our hearts.

Petition: Help me, Lord, to sincerely place you above all things.

1.   Christ Invites Us to Give Alms, Pray and Fast.  Lent is a time of conversion, a time to prepare oneself to encounter the risen Christ.  This conversion is assisted by almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.  However, the conversion sought by Christ is much more than the mere external fulfillment of some acts. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change ones life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of his grace (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1431).

2.  Take Care Not to Perform Righteous Deeds in Order that People May See Them.  At times the temptation might arise to do something good for the wrong reason.  It is so easy to do something simply to be accepted or praised by others. This can even be true of our acts of piety and charity.  Therefore Christ warns us to give alms, pray, and fast out of love for God and not to be seen. At the same time Christ also said that he would deny those before his Father who denied him before men.  So he is not encouraging a false religious modesty, which causes us always to hide our faith.  Christians are also called to be the light of the world.

3.  "Your Father Who Sees in Secret Will Repay You."  The important element is to act sincerely; act seeking to love God and neighbor, then the reward will be union with God and not simply hollow praise: Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored (Lam 5:21). God who sees all things accompanies us in all our joys and all our sorrows, even the most hidden ones. It is precisely this loving God who wants to reward all our acts of love, even the most hidden ones.

Conversation:  Lord, give me the necessary grace to turn away from sin and to follow you with a sincere heart.  Let all my acts be motivated out of love of you and my neighbor, so that in seeking you, you will be my reward.

Questionnaire

1. How aware am I aware of the constant need for conversion that I have in my life? How often do I compare where God wants me to be to where I am now? What's holding me back from being more like Christ?

2. What concrete goals have I set for Lent in order to do my part in my conversion? How often do I make a small sacrifices, make extra time for prayer, or step up and make an act of charity?

3. Am I aware that the Eucharist is key to our continuous conversion process? How well do I prepare myself to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist? How often do I spend time praying before the Blessed Sacrament? How strong is my faith in the Real Presence?