Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 17,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:   Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

(Jesus said,) “Take care that you do not give alms so to be seen by others. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your heavenly Father. Therefore, when you do give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that others will praise them. Truly, I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does so that your almsgiving is in secret and your Father who sees Himself what you do in secret shall reward you openly.

“And when you pray, do not do as the hypocrites who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they have already received their reward. But when you pray, enter into an inner room and close the door and pray to the Father who will see you and reward you.

Moreover, when you fast, do not do as the hypocrites who put on a sad countenance and neglect their appearance, so they appear to others to be fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to be fasting. But your heavenly Father will see what you do in secret and will reward you.”

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

Do I practice my faith to grow my relationship with my LORD or to impress others?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

In today’s gospel reading taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that we are to practice our faith to grow our relationship with the LORD, our actions are not be undertaken to impress others with our piety.  Our motive is to come closer to our LORD and not to gain the praise of others. Jesus calls us to authentic prayer.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

LORD, I come to You in faith, hope and love seeking what only You can grant to me, a sharing in your life and an outpouring of your transformative love. Send the Spirit to strip from my any desire for human praise and to build up in me a true understanding of who You created me to be and call me to be and the courage to authentically come to You in my needs which only You can meet. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more