A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus said to the disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before others to attract their attention; if you do this, you will have no reward from your Abba God in heaven.

“When you do acts of charity, for example, do not have it trumpeted before you; that is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by others.  Truly, I tell

you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you do acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; your good deeds must be in secret, and your Abba

God who sees all that is done in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not behave like the hypocrites; they love to pray standing up in the synagogues and on street corners for people to see them.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to God who is in that secret place, and your Abba God who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

“When you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do. They purposely look scruffy and disheveled so that others will notice that they are fasting.  Truly, I say to you, they have already received their reward in full.  But when you fast, groom your hair and wash your face so that no one can see you are fasting, no one except your Abba God who is in secret; and God, who sees all that is done in secret, will reward you.”

The Good News as spoken through Matthew.