+ Today we hear a familiar gospel passage. It is actually the one from Ash Wednesday. In this section of his gospel, St. Matthew is laying out the conditions that must be met in order to surpass the supposed holiness and apparent hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He says: "Don't be showy or flashy in your almsgiving!" "Don't be ostentatious or flamboyant in your prayer-posture!" "Don't be pretentious or sensational in your fasting!" This outward show, if it does not have an inner matching spirit of humility, contrition and desire to do God's will wholly, is a farce and is to be avoided.
How often does pride taint our spiritual activities? How often does love of God take a back seat to love of self in our motivations? How often do we fail to follow the spirit behind the laws given for our spiritual growth in holiness and perfection?
Just as Elisha the prophet simply succeeded his teacher Elijah before the great prophet was taken up to heaven in a flaming chariot, and carried on his work faithfully and in a humble manner; so ought we be faithful servants of Jesus sent to carry on the work of saving souls – our own and others' – and not get a swelled head about it!
We are already amazing new creations from our baptism; that is show enough! It is the gentleness and compassion that we show that proves that we are these new creations: sons and daughters of a heavenly Father; brothers and sisters of a divine Brother and Savior. May we be such amazing new, right-intentioned, right-motivated creations today!
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