So that you may not appear to be fasting

2 Cor 9,6-11; Ps 111; Mt 6,1-6.16-18
19 JUNE

A Christian is one who in Christ, under the constant motion and guidance of the Holy Spirit, has given his life to the Father so that through it all his glory is revealed. The Christian is a consecrated person in the service of the glory of God. If he works for the glory of the Father, he cannot work for his glory. If he works for his glory, he certainly will not work for the glory of the Father. Never might the Father give him the eternal reward. St. Paul exhorts both the Corinthians and the Romans to always live according to this purpose.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved (1Cor 10,31-33). We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves; let each of us please our neighbour for the good, for building up. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you fall upon me.” For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God (Cf. Rm 15,1-9).  

That is how a mystic of our times, under the constant motion of the Holy Spirit, has always thought and lived her life. Even a sigh of hers is for the glory of the Lord.

For you … Lord, I live, I walk, I go, I announce your Word. For you … Lord, I look for, I ask, I find and knock at your door. For you … Lord, I hope, I love, I believe and wait for you to come. For you … Lord, I visit, I cure and relieve suffering. For you … Lord, I do not wait, I do not want, I do not wish and do not aspire for the reward of men. For you … Lord, I suffer, I endure, I tolerate and die to always stay with you. For you … Lord, suffering is joy, the cross is resurrection, death is life and the offering of me is a gift from you. For you … Lord, obedience, sacrifice, the stable and the cross is the way for the glory of your Father. For you … Lord, our thoughts do not count, have no value, do not give life and do not lead us to you for eternity. For you … Lord, the gift of life for the Gospel and your Word of truth give us the joy of paradise.

Jesus warns us. If we work for the glory of God, the Father will give us his eternal reward in his heaven of bliss and eternal joy. If we work for our glory, we have already received our ephemeral joy. Never might God reward us. We have not worked for Him. By righteousness He owes nothing to us. We are without eternal reward. What good is it for man to gain the whole world, if he then loses his soul?

“(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Everyone is obliged to choose. Who serves himself will have the reward from himself. It is a reward of death. Who serves God will have the reward from God and it will be eternal.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that we do everything for the glory of our God.