God Loves Secrets
-
Upload
oka-kurniawan -
Category
Spiritual
-
view
533 -
download
2
description
Transcript of God Loves Secrets
- 1. God Loves Secrets Matthew 6:1-6
2. [1] "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
- [2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
- [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- [5] "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 men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [6] 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.
3. St. Augustine
- He does not now bid us pray, but instructs us how we should pray; as above He did not command us to do alms but showed the manner of doing them.
4. [1] "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
- [2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
- [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- [5] "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 men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [6] 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.
5. On the necessity of giving alms
- CCC 2447 [...] Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God: [...]
6. St. John Chrysostom
- How can it be that we should not do our alms before men?
7. The intention in our heart
- CCC 1753 [...] On the other hand, an added bad intention (such as vainglory) makes an act evil that, in and of itself, can be good (such as almsgiving).
- For though it is easy for any not to wish for praise when it is denied him, it is difficult not to be pleased with it when it is offered. - St. Augustine
8. Left hand and right hand
- Left hand -> delight in men's praise
- Right hand -> purpose of fulfiling the divine commands
9. When the heart sees God alone
- For he who does any thing for God's sake, sees nothing in his heart but God, for whose sake he does it; - Pseudo-Chrys
10. The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses 11. Practical tips for giving for God
- Pray for humility
- Do every little things for God e.g.: work, study, ministry, help to others
- Offer them up to God through prayers
- Give thanks and praise God in daily prayers
- Daily examination of consience
12. [1] "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
- [2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
- [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- [5] "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 men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- [6] 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.
13. About praying not to be seen by others
- Whoever then so prays as to be seen of men does not look to God but to man, [...]
- But he whose mind in prayer is wholy fixed on God, though he prays in the synagogue yet seems to pray with himself in secret.
- -Pseudo-Chrys
14. As Jesus also prays alone 15. Practical tips for praying
- Find a suitable place
- Commit to a suitable time
- Prepare your mind and heart (use sacred pictures, cross, altar, Bible, etc)
- Spend a fixed time for prayer
- Use Scriptures
- Spend some silent moment in prayer