Practicing Piety

Scripture/Bible: "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. ………… 16 "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:  A priest was once told by his superiors to practice his piety in public as an example to his flock.  His idea of obedience compelled him to do so even though it was an advice and not an order.

Do we need to practice piety in public in order to be an example to your flock; which means playing to the galleries? 

When Jesus says beware, it is in no uncertain terms that he warns us to be beware of practicing our piety before men, in order to be seen by them. 

“O but the resultant fruit would be that many will learn from your example.” Surely they will learn from your example to be another hypocrite to practice their piety in public so that others too may learn from them. 

Ultimately everyone learns from everyone, to be a hypocrite!

Why do some people in authority walk in such folly? It’s because they always thought the word of God has flaws in it and so they instead of learning sound theology, dogma and scripture chose to accumulate degrees and doctorates in secular studies and prided themselves in it as if these were superior knowledge to be swallowed indiscriminately.  May be they went on to hold such positions and power piggybacking on these laurels of theirs.   

Prove your faith by your actions and your actions will prove your faith. 

If you teach people from other sources than what is sound Catholic, pagan wisdom and worldly anecdotes, then you will end up teaching the practice of wrong spirituality’s. This is an absolute mockery of faith!

This faith is nothing but the faith of Judas who in his external practice was an apostle of Jesus but as to his dedication belonged to the synagogue of Satan. We do not know what trail he led to hell with him.

Does this mean that you can’t practice your faith in public? No not at all, but don’t do it for public consumption but out of pure reverence and awe of God; for there are some who practice the other extreme.   

Prayer: “May my heart be blameless in thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame!” Ps 119:80

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