The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6:1

The Lord does not condemn righteous deeds such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving. What he condemns is self-righteousness which is an attitude of superiority or arrogance in the performance of righteous deeds. In chapter six of St. Matthew’s gospel, he spells out what he means.

When you pray, he says, “pray to your Father in secret.” Only God knows what goes on in the deep recesses of the human heart. This secret world of prayer is between you and God; it is not for show or to impress others. Prayer is from the heart because it is your private time to commune with the Lord who will repay you in secret.

When you fast, he says, “do not look gloomy like the hypocrites” who want to appear to others to be fasting. Fasting, like prayer, is a private matter; it is between you and the Lord. You don’t have to please anyone but the Lord and the Lord “who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

When you “give alms”, he says, “do not blow a trumpet before you, as hypocrites do.” People who volunteer or donate to a good cause should do so from the goodness of the heart, not for recognition or personal advancement. Those who make donations in order to receive recognition have “received their reward.” The spirit of almsgiving is not to “let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” for your Father “who sees in secret will reward you.”

It is clear that good deeds are very important for they give glory to God. It is also clear that the way we perform good deeds is equally important if we want to please God rather than please others and attract attention.

It is the “spirit”, says St. Paul, “that gives life.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy