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“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your
right is doing…
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray
to your Father in secret.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face…” Matthew
6:3; 6; 17
One Church Father explains that almsgiving, prayer and fasting are
three acts that help us to combat the three temptations that Jesus
overcame in the desert. First, our Lord overcame gluttony when the
evil one tempted Him to turn stones into bread to satiate His
hunger after fasting for 40 days. Second, our Lord overcame
vainglory when the evil one took Him to the parapet of the temple
and tempted Him to throw Himself down so that the angels of God
would save Him, proving His divinity. Third, our Lord overcame
greed when the evil one took Him up a high mountain and showed Him
all the kingdoms of the world, promising to give them to Jesus if
He worshiped him.
Today’s Gospel identifies the three ways that we are able to
overcome these same temptations of gluttony, vainglory and greed.
Almsgiving, or generosity, is the cure for greed. Prayer within the
“inner room” of your soul is the cure for vainglory. Fasting is the
cure for gluttony.
As Lent begins, we are also invited into the desert for 40 days. We
are invited to face the many temptations we endure in life so as to
overcome them by the power of God. If you struggle with one of
these above-mentioned temptations, all of them, or some similar
temptation, the cure is found when the temptation is identified and
the contrary virtue is embraced.
Do you struggle with greed? If so, consider being generous this
Lent. God has promised to provide for your needs. He has not
promised earthly wealth, but He has promised to care for you. There
is great freedom found in believing that promise. One way to more
fully trust in God’s providence is to generously give of your money
to those in need. Don’t hesitate to do so if this is your
struggle.
Do you struggle with a desire for vainglory and have an inordinate
desire to prove your worth to others? If so, turn to prayer. It is
in personal prayer, within that “inner room” of your heart, where
God will meet you and reveal to you your true value and worth. As
you discover your dignity in prayer, you will find you have no need
to prove that dignity and value to others through prideful
means.
Do you struggle with gluttony and seek to satiate your longings by
the excessive consumption of food and drink? If so, the cure will
be found in fasting. Denying your disordered appetites has great
spiritual value. Fasting intermingled with prayer opens your soul
to seek satisfaction only in God, and not in the flesh.
Reflect, today, upon that which needs to be your primary focus this
Lent. What is it that keeps you from God? What temptations do you
struggle with the most? Perhaps greed, vainglory or gluttony is
among your struggles. If so, then do not hesitate to commit
yourself to the cures this Lent. The end result will be that “your
Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
My freeing Lord, help me to see my greatest sins this Lent and
to begin the process of overcoming them. Please reveal to me the
virtues I need to embrace so as to be freed of these burdens and to
grow more firmly in my love of You and others. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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