WEDNESDAY- 11^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

I Reading: Kings 2:1.6-14: A chariot of fire appeared and Elijah went up to heaven.

Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6. 16-18: Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

The Right Motive for Giving, 6:1-4

God expects people to be kind and do well in the world: to help others both through personal involvement and through giving generously and sacrificially.  God expects a person to have the right motive because a person’s eternal fate is determined by his/her motive. Because of this, Jesus Christ warns us about right and wrong motives.

1.    Acts of righteousness-doing good and giving (v.1)

a.    Warning: do not seek recognition

b.    The reason: God will not reward

2.    The wrong motive (v.2)

a.    Giving for recognition

b.    Characteristic of hypocrites

c.     Reward: recognition my people only

3.    The right motive (v.3-4)

a.    Giving unconsciously

b.    Giving quietly-privately-secretely

4.    The reasons (v.4)

a.    Father sees in secret

b.    Father rewards openly

The Right Motive for Prayer, 6:5-6

This passage is speaking to those who pray-people who take prayer seriously. Prayer is one of the greatest acts of Christian believer. Talking to God and listening to his words and putting into action and practice according to God’s will is a true prayer. Jesus’ concern is how we pray? Jesus Christ sets out to teach us the right and wrong motives for praying.

1.    The wrong motive: praying to be seen by people (v.5)

a.    Place: loving to pray

1)    Only in the synagogue

2)    Only in the streets

b.    Reason: for recognition

c.     Reward: people’s esteem

2.    The right motive: praying to be heard by God (v.6)

a.    Place: in one’s private place

b.    Reason: God is in one’s secret or private place

c.     Reward: will receive open blessings

Thought: The sin is not failing to pray. The sin is praying only in church and in public. Pray without ceasing is the right way of praying.

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