“Doing away with the ‘gadgets of our self-wills’ and beginning to really re-charge ourselves with doing God’s Will!”

(Based on 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 and Mt 6:1-6 – Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time)

An Italian newspaper carried a news story about a young couple in Milan who seemed particularly devoted in their worship.

The priest at a Cathedral reported that the pair spent an hour or more on a regular basis…
… sitting before a statue of the Virgin Mary.

But shockingly…
… it turned out, that they were not really praying!

This young couple was recharging their cell phone!

They had noticed a stray electric cable sticking out of the wall…
… behind the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Whenever their phone’s power supply dwindled, the young couple came to the church and re-charged it!

Well…
What looked like an act of piety, was actually a self-serving ploy!

Maybe, we are much shocked by this act…

But how about us?
Do we indulge ourselves into similar acts?
… claiming to be praying – but without true devotion or only for “transient gains and desires”
… claiming to be abstaining – but without a sense of joy and reducing it to “an annual observance of an unconvinced pious act”
… claiming to be doing acts of piety – but perhaps, with selfish motives or as “popularity stunts”

Are we really re-charging ourselves?
… or are recharging the many “gadgets” of our self-will?

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching by Jesus on the prime importance of restoring the “true intention in the acts of praying, fasting and almsgiving”…
… with a need to put on the vestment of humility and sincerity!

The Gospel Passage – Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 – presents to us Jesus speaking of the three core practices that were essential pious practices of His time: ALMSGIVING, PRAYER and FASTING (PENANCE).

He invites us to perform these acts of piety with a “holy and sincere devotion”

With respect to almsgiving, Jesus says…
… “sound no trumpet” (Mt 6:2)

With respect to prayer, Jesus says…
… “shut the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6)

With respect to fasting, Jesus says…
…”anoint your head and wash your face” (Mt 6:17)

It is interesting to note that these 3 practices refers to 3 dimensions of Love:
… towards God
… towards others
… towards oneself

Prayer: Reminding ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love
Almsgiving: Reviving our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another
Fasting: Rediscovering the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

It’s high time we move from “prayering” –merely reciting words…
… to praying – words of love that arise from the heart!

It’s high time we move from “announcements” – throwing words of charity into the air…
…to almsgiving – charity that flows from the generosity of one’s heart!

It’s high time we move from “feasting” – indulging in self-pleasure…
… to fasting – self-discipline to help one to regulate one’s life!

Yes… we are called to give greater attention to “return to the basics”…
… restoring the “true intention in all our activities!”

Can we stop making our acts of piety as merely self-serving ploys?

Shall we do away with the “gadgets of our self-wills”
… and begin to really re-charge ourselves with doing God’s Will?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
BAPTISM – What is This Sacrament Called?

This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding
Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light,” indeed, he becomes “light” himself
Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift… We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift.
It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own…
… grace since it is given even to the guilty
… Baptism because sin is buried in the water
… anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed
… enlightenment because it radiates light

… clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship. (CCC #1216)