Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
"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. "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. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "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. 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. "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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.
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Sa mga tudlo ni Jesus sa Ija mga disipulo, pangaliya, pag-puasa sanan paghatag nan limos an Ija inhatagan gajud nan importansiya kay sa mga Jew, amo man kuno ini an tuyo ka mga buluhaton nan relehiyuso na kunabuhi.
Pero kon himuon nato ini’n tuyo ka aksiyon kuman, uno man kaha’y ato motibo, para ba hikit’an kita sanan mapansin nan mga tawo parehas nan mga Pharisee sa panahon ni Jesus o para nato mahipa-kita kan God an tinood nato na debosyon nan ato pagmahal Dija.
An ekspresyon nato nan ato pagmahal kan Lord dili kinahanglan na ipasi'atab pa sa kataw’han para kasaksihan nila an suyod nan ato mga kasing-kasing kondili, himoon nato ini kay amo’y tag-udyok ini nan ato pagkatawo agi’g hatag nan kahimayaan kan God.
Sa pagsugod nan cuaresma kuman na adlaw, marajaw seguro na sug’dan nato an ato pagsunod sa mga kagustuhan ni God para dato, sa tabang nan Holy Spirit, pinaagi sa ato pagpangaliya, pag-puasa sanan paglimos - pagpadayag nato nan ato gugma sa ato isig’katawo, ekspresyon nan ato magmahal kan Lord.
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"Lord Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love of you. Take from me all lukewarmness in the meditation of your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace, and fill me with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity."
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