March 1, 2008

Externals Help Internals

Human life is comprised of external and internal realities. Both of these realities are important. In his message for Lent 2008, Pope Benedict XVI wrote about the Lenten practice of almsgiving as an external act which should lead us to an inner purification. It should help us to become less materialistic, free us from an unhealthy attachment to worldly goods and teach us the generosity of love.

The Pope also warns us to avoid doing such external acts as almsgiving in such a way that places us at the center of attention. Rather, the glory of God should be our motivation. The Scribes and Pharisees were into externals without the proper internal disposition. Our Lord was constantly confronting them on this problem. "Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:20).

I could give alms and help to the poor as a means of making me feel better about myself. This would not be what God wants. In such a scenario I am not advocating that we abandon the poor. Rather, let us pray for the grace to perform the prescribed externals with the proper internal dispositions!

Pray, pray, pray

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
St. Joseph Friary, New York, NY

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