Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
19th June 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. [They came to Jerico, and] Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Psalm 31:20, 21, 24 (R. 25)
R/. Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people 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 to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving 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 others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. 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 others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Goodness and holiness are matters of genuine devotion and dedication. They should be spontaneous outflows and expressions of authenticity and not tools for publicity
1. We are living in a culture of publicity and cheap popularity. The sale and the use of a commodity often depend not on its quality but on the knack of publicity. Thus often, a thing or a person is rated successful on how much that one is recognized, publicized, and popularized. That is why we find a lot of duplicity and a mad craze for cheap popularity.
2. Jesus cautions us against such a tendency of hypocrisy. He says very plainly, Do whatever you do, not for recognition, applause and reward; but do it spontaneously from a genuine and devout heart. The sole motive in doing any spiritual or fraternal act is pleasing God and being faithful to our religious duty.
3. Jesus discusses this referring to the three essential religious practices, namely, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We need to pray, not for the sake of impressing others that we are spiritual and prayerful. But we pray in order to experience, exercise, express, and enhance our intimate relationship with God.
4. We need to give alms to the needy, not for getting applauded for our generosity. But we do charity so that those who are in need are helped and bettered. It is out of our sensitivity and concern for the poor and not for a good certificate.
5. Similarly, we need to fast, not because we want to be praised for our sense of rigour and sacrifice. Rather, we fast so that we become more self-restrained and self-disciplined. It is out of our spirit to give priority to the spiritual over the material.
6. The spirit is very important. Prophet Elisha in the first reading can be an indicator for us in this right direction. He wanted to follow the prophet, Elijah. But it is not for fame and popularity by mighty power and miracles. Rather, it is to continue the legacy of Elijah by way of the same zeal and fidelity in God’s mission. He not only took up the material cloak of Elijah but he also carried “a double portion of Elijah’s spirit on him”, true to his plea to Elijah.
Practice: There is no devaluing the importance of religious practices like extra prayers, fasting, and alms. But we must constantly check on the motive and effect of them. Is it really to practice and foster devotion, discipline, and charity, or to make a show?
