Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Monuments throughout the city of Rome personify the ideal of Roman Charity as a mother nursing her child. So much of a mother’s work is unseen and lacking in thanks that it perhaps serves as the best example of Christ’s admonition in today’s gospel: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” Is it no surprise then that the Missionaries of Charity here in Rome and in locations throughout the world are a bit camera shy? What an example these women set for fulfilling this gospel admonition when they don’t want their photo taken when doing good works. A bit different from when every instance of volunteerism needs to be documented and announced by every means of media.
The example set by the maternal image of Roman charity reflects the gospel and it also reflects a tremendous challenge against the temptation that every good work needs to be advertised.