Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you let your Holy Spirit fill us spontaneously
with every good gift.
You want us to be to everyone
ministers of your generosity.
Help us to express our gratitude to you
and to reveal your goodness
by sharing what we are and have
with joy and in all sincerity,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you for ever.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: 2 Kgs 2:1, 6 –14

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a
whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah
said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the LORD has sent me on to
the Jordan.” “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I
will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on
together. Fifty of the guild prophets followed and when the
two stopped at the Jordan, they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which
divided, and both crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for
whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha
answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You
have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still,
if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted;
otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot
and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to
heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried
out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But
when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own
garment and tore it in two.

Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding
the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water
in his turn and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31:20, 21, 24

R./ Let your hearts take comfort,
      all who hope in the Lord.

How great is the goodness, O LORD,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort,
      all who hope in the Lord.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort,
      all who hope in the Lord.

Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!
The LORD keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R./ Let your hearts take comfort,
      all who hope in the Lord.

Gospel Reading Introduction
         Both Jesus and Paul speak to us today on sincere and generous sharing. To Paul, the generous, spontaneous givers are ministers of God's goodness; by giving thanks to God for what they themselves have received they are further enriching themselves by sharing. Giving - also praying and doing penance - must be done for the sake of God, says Jesus, not to congratulate oneself or to be admired by others. It would be good for us, for our Catholic organizations and institutions of the Church to remember that we have no monopoly on charity, that God is present in every act of love and sharing, also when not bearing the Catholic label. True love is discreet, like God's.

Gospel Reading: Mt 6:1– 6, 16–18

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that
others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received
their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close
the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father
who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others
to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their
reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your
face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except
to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what
is hidden will repay you.”