Wednesday Reading Cana Week

Romans 15:14-21
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God. For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit (of God), so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have finished preaching the gospel of Christ. Thus I aspire to proclaim the gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on another’s foundation, but as it is written: “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.” Praise be to God always.
Matthew 6:1-4
“(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. This is the Truth. Peace be with you.

Jesus encourages us to good deeds, which he hopes we perform as love in action. He wants us to make sure that when we do good, we do it not for tax breaks or to show off, or for volunteer hours, but out of love. I have heard many debates about whether or not to give money to people on the streets. Both sides have good points, one side says we should give and the other side says we aren’t really helping. It seems that giving money on the street whatever the case is a shortcut or poor substitute and often emotionally driven. IF we are charitable because of love rather than feelings of guilt, we are called to go farther. Sit with the person and show them love. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Alms giving may be just certain times, but Jesus calls us to live the underlying love at all times. Show love, and give alms, because of your love of God, not because of your love of vanity.