Homily for Wednesday, 18 June 2014– Ferial

Wednesday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time 

Readings of the day: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Psalm 31:20, 21, 24; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Has anyone here, in moments of excitement over our accomplishments, ever listed off these accomplishments to another person in conversation? Then, has anyone here stopped momentarily and then added a phrase like (one of my favorites I admit), “I don’t mean to boast, but…”?

To be aware of and even to speak with joy about our accomplishments and our talents to other people and in prayer to God are not necessarily bad things. There is no shame in taking some pride in our accomplishments and talents, even aloud, as long as we first give thanks to God who gives us these talents; who gives the ability to accomplish sometimes extraordinary deeds.

And yet how often do we reflect that we live in a competitive social environment that encourages us to take credit for our accomplishments; our talents, often without giving due credit and glory to God, the source of these gifts; accomplishments; talents; of everything that is good?

“I don’t mean to boast, but I give alms, I pray regularly, and I fast.” Can we not imagine the early followers of Jesus addressed in Matthew speaking these words? Have we ever spoken similar words? Jesus’ response to them and to us is, “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them… Your Father who sees in secret”; “who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

We have and we will have opportunities “to perform righteous deeds” in public, where other “people may see them.” I imagine that we have and we will have opportunities in which it is appropriate to be proud of our righteous actions and even to give voice to this pride when speaking with other people. This, in and of itself, is not wrong.

But Jesus reminds us in our Gospel reading today of the great grace in doing quietly, “in secret,” what is right; what is God-like. We are encouraged perhaps to perform a so-called “random act of kindness” toward another; a deed that the other person to whom we are intentionally kind does not expect; cannot repay, or does not even know who did it. We are encouraged by Jesus to run counter to our culture that puts pride for accomplishments and talents; that puts competitiveness on display, even to excess. We are encouraged to give glory to God by the witness of our lives; our quiet acts of kindness and mercy especially.

I don’t mean to boast, but I think that, in light of today’s Gospel, Jesus would allow us to boast with quiet gratitude in our God who is good to us, who repays our acts of kindness toward one another in due time, and who makes possible all that we do that is good.