Today's Gospel in Art - Do not parade your good deeds before people

Purify your Intentions, Drawn in 2013, Printed cartoon © Christian Art

Gospel of 17th June 2020 - Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men's admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

'When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.'

Reflection on the Cartoon

We are often all too anxious to broadcast our good deeds, wanting to be complimented on them. Again Jesus is telling us to go against this tendency we have and not to parade our good deeds in front of others… The best work in the world never hits the headlines.

Pope Francis calls on us (especially during these days of pandemic when the most vulnerable people are the people on the streets) not to ignore anybody begging on the street. He says that whilst giving something to the poor, we should 'look them in the eyes'. The focus has to be on the person whom we help, and not on the friends or colleagues we want to impress.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christianart.today/reading.php?id=455

Christian Art Today - www.christian.art