THURSDAY September 24

One of my earliest memories is of hearing this passage read in church and being terrified. I did not comprehend the context of the passage nor connect it with almsgiving, but simply saw God as a great spy-master who was even more pervasive than those elves of Santa who lived in the duct work, keeping tabs on me.

 As I matured and came to understand the true meaning of this phrase, the terror left me, but there was still an indelible mark. It is part of our human nature to want to impress others. Sometimes that becomes the driving force for doing good and for charitable giving. I suppose if it serves the greater good, God will overlook our less than pure motives. But more important than those moments of public goodness is the way we live our lives day to day. How we behave and what we do when no one else is around is what defines us. I am glad God is there with me in those moments, for that helps keep me honest with myself.

PRAY for the Diocese of Spokane (Province VIII, USA)

Ps [83] or 116, 117 * 85, 86; 2 Kings 9:1-16; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

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