The Springs of Good Intent
- davidwperk
- Apr 29, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, April 29, 2024
The week of the fifth Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
6:1‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65
Lev. 16:1-19; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 6:1-6,16-18
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Catherine of Siena. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
In last Tuesday’s Gospel lesson, Jesus says we are to let our light so shine before others that they might see our good works and give glory and honor to the God we serve. Today, we are being told to give secretly to people in need and to charitable causes. We are being told to avoid public prayers. We are being told to keep it a secret when we are fasting. How can we let our light shine before others while doing acts of mercy and piety in secret?
In that earlier passage, Jesus says that we are like a city on a hilltop. It cannot be concealed. Here we are told to practice concealment. These passages do indeed rub up against one another. The essential dilemma arises because of our desire for recognition; being recognized by people feels a bit more immediate and gratifying than some future recognition and reward from God.
Jesus addressed three of the most basic acts of piety that were deemed important in Judaism—alms giving, public prayer, and fasting. Our list of the top three ways to express devotion in our day would differ. But, Jesus instructions would be the same. Be discreet. Be anonymous. Don’t convert the altar of obedience into a stage of performance. Let your light shine, but don’t rent a beacon and fill the night sky with brilliant shafts of self-promotion. The key phrase in English translation, “in order to be seen by them,” translates an infinitive of purpose. The reason for acts of righteousness is “to be seen.”
The most basic question we can ask would be something like, “Why am I doing this? What is my intent?” If the desire for recognition is primary then the call to act comes from outside us. If the desire to be close to God and to love others is primary then the call comes from within. Acts of service and obedience arising from an internal place may have a taint of poor motivation around the edges but the central desire will be coming from another place. We will be driven by the springs of good intent.
Mystic and sage, Thomas Merton gives us the image of the spring of contemplation as the source of our actions. Note especially the last sentence.
Action and contemplation now grow together into one life and one unity. They become two aspects of the same thing. Action is charity looking outward to other (people) men, and contemplation is charity drawn inward to its own divine source. Action is the stream, and contemplation is the spring. The spring remains more important than the stream, for the only thing that really matters is for love to spring up inexhaustibly from the infinite abyss of Christ and of God.+
+Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1967), p. 65.
Collect of the Day, Fifth Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 225)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Catherine of Siena, reformer and spiritual teacher (died 29 April 1380 CE).
Collect of Catherine of Siena
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your servant Catherine of Siena: Grant unto us the same strength of conviction and power of love that, as we rejoice in her triumph, we may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For a Birthday
Watch over your child, O Lord, as her/his days increase; bless and guide her/him wherever she/he may be. Strengthen her/him when she/he stands; comfort her/him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her/him up if she/he falls; and in her/his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of her/his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, 830)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
6:1‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever 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.
16 ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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