Gospel (Mt 6,1-6.16-18) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «Be careful not to practice your righteousness before men to be admired by them, otherwise there is no reward for you from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not blow the trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, to be praised by the people. Truly I say to you: they have already received their reward. Instead, while you give alms, let your left hand not know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving remains in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. »And when you pray, do not be similar to the hypocrites who, in the synagogues and in the corners of the squares, love to pray standing upright, to be seen by people. Truly I say to you: they have already received their reward. Instead, when you pray, go into your room, close 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 become melancholy like the hypocrites, who put on a haggard look to show others that they are fasting. Truly I say to you: they have already received their reward. Instead, when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face there, so that people do not see that you are fasting, but only your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus continues to speak about justice. He clarified, with the examples that we have meditated on in recent days, that the ancient Law must be lived with a new spirit, with a renewed heart. Faith in the Lord is not measured by the external observance of practices or by the number of gestures that are carried out, nor by the consensus that can be obtained from people. Faith is measured by the conversion of the heart to the Lord. Jesus, in this evangelical passage, recalls three religious practices held in great consideration: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. But what he wants to underline is the invitation to interiority that is present in these three practices which have a fundamental importance in the life of the believer. But they must be experienced in depth. Almsgiving, which today unfortunately is sometimes even mocked by some Christians, is not simply a gesture of satisfaction towards those in need. Almsgiving requires the involvement of the heart with the poor. There is a need to touch them, to call them by name, to be interested in them, in short to love them because Christ himself is present in them. This is the spirituality of almsgiving. And this is what God sees in secret, that is, in depth. Even prayer does not consist in the externality of rites, but above all in making space in one's heart for the Word of God. This is the internality that God sees and is pleased with. Similarly for fasting. What is not in question is the externality of a practice, but that internal struggle that is essential to decrease our egocentrism - here is the purpose of fasting - to make the space to welcome the Lord grow within us.