Heavenly Father,
We ask for purity of heart in imitation of Your Son so that our good deeds, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will be for the sake of Your people and Kingdom, not our aggrandizement. Help us to direct all our actions toward You so that our Lenten sacrifices will bring us closer to Your love and the eternal Kingdom You have prepared for us. May our hearts be pure and our actions transformed in Your grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Reflection
“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 in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let 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 received their reward. 6 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."
—Matthew 6: 1-6
Read also:
“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 received 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."
—Matthew 6: 16-18
Almsgiving
Almsgiving is the simple and meaningful act of giving to others—usually to the temporary suffering of the giver for the betterment of another. In participating in giving alms, we surrender our own comfort to extend that comfort to another who needs it.
When practicing almsgiving, our goal should be to become closer to God and rely more on Him to provide for us while we provide for others.
Present throughout scripture, almsgiving is a constant theme that teaches us to love others as God loves us and that, in giving alms, we are doing His work.
Through almsgiving, we are able to love our neighbor in the way we love Him. We also contribute to social justice with each alms we give and work towards a better world, all in His name.
Through simple, small acts of varying means (money, time, talent), we can constantly do the work of God here on earth—no matter the season!
Did This Prayer and Reflection Speak to You?
If you found that your heart needed this prayer and your faith found peace in the further reflections, consider continuing your journey with these three Fr. Spitzer titles:
In The Moral Wisdom of the Catholic Church, Father Spitzer lays bare the theological and philosophical roots of Catholic morality. Also, he uses secular statistical studies to demonstrate that these teachings, even from a scientific standpoint, help human beings to flourish.
In partnership with the Sophia Institute for Teachers, Fr. Spitzer builds on the Moral Wisdom of the Catholic Church with the Challenges of the Modern World. This course gives students the understanding they need to respond to the important and difficult moral issues of our time.
In Science, Reason, and Faith: Discovering the Bible, Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJ, explores in depth the Bible and the intersection of three realms the secular world tells us are separate and incompatible. Fr. Spitzer draws the modern reader's attention to the many seeming conflicts between science, reason, and Catholic teaching. By tackling these difficult questions, he shows that we can truly discover ourselves, our world, and our God precisely through the integration of science, reason, and faith.
