00:09of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.
00:13Matthew chapter 6, verse 1, introduces and covers these three
00:19fundamental practices in biblical justice, that is,
00:24in the will of God, almsgiving, prayer and fasting.
00:28These three practices complemented all of those
00:34commandments contained in the Torah and together
00:38They constituted total justice.
00:42Alms represent the relationship with others.
00:47Prayer reflects the right relationship with God.
00:52Fasting symbolizes self-control and self-discipline
00:59that strengthen man from the snares of the world and the devil.
01:06These three practices are based on the premise of not practicing justice.
01:13in front of men, because in this way we will not receive a reward from God.
01:19Because man can be deceived, brothers, but no one can deceive God.
01:25He sees the rectitude of intention, he sees that which motivates the performance of our practices.
01:34Regarding almsgiving, Matthew 6:24 says the following,
01:40No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other,
01:46or he will be loyal to one and despise the other.
01:51You cannot serve both God and money.
01:54Almsgiving represents justice towards others.
02:00not only in the economic sphere, but in all aspects of life.
02:06It should not be made to be seen or admired by others,
02:10but as a genuine act of communication with our Heavenly Father,
02:17who sees in secret and knows everything we experience.
02:24It is, therefore, a discreet and sincere donation.
02:30not a tool to gain prestige or influence.
02:36Unlike the Roman system,
02:39where employers gave public gifts to gain influence,
02:45prestige and control over their clients,
02:48who in turn also offered them support.
02:53True almsgiving does not seek to control or gain prestige.
02:59It is a free gift, an act of generosity that comes from a pure heart,
03:06without expecting recognition or rewards.
03:10As our pastor, Father Ernesto María Caro, says,
03:16In reference to what I told you about the Roman system,
03:20that we often serve the boss, the supervisor, our own parents,
03:27solely for reasons of convenience,
03:31always looking for what advantage we can gain from any action.
03:37Many times the charity we do for our brothers and sisters in need
03:42It has a selfish, and sometimes utilitarian, background.
03:49And this is nothing like what Jesus proposes to us.
03:53All our actions, not just spiritual ones,
03:58They must have a single motivation towards God and love for their brothers.
04:06Let us remember that being generous, while a grace,
04:10It is also an exercise that should be put into practice.
04:15Let us now turn to the subject of prayer.
04:19We find this in chapter 6, verses 5 through 7.
04:24Prayer is an intimate space of communion with God,
04:29where a sincere relationship is established between the person and the Lord.
04:35Jesus teaches us that it is not about seeking to be seen or admired by others as hypocrites do.
04:45This is a word that means actor, that is, it's not about acting.
04:52These people turn almsgiving and prayer into a spectacle.
04:57seeking the approval of others.
04:59That, Jesus says, is the only reward they will receive.
05:06On the contrary, He invites us to pray by entering our room,
05:13which symbolizes the deepest part of our heart,
05:17where we speak from the truth of our being,
05:21where our vulnerabilities lie and where we can be whole with Him.
05:27Next, in Matthew 6, from verses 9 to 13,
05:33Jesus gives us the distinctive prayer of the Christian, the Lord's Prayer,
05:41perfect model of filial prayer that integrates praise, supplication and trust in God.
05:49Having now privately exhorted us, without vanity or much verbosity,
05:57He now teaches us to address God as our Father, that Heavenly Abba,
06:05inaugurating an intimate relationship as adopted children
06:10that transforms our prayer into a loving dialogue with our Father who is in heaven.
06:17The prayer begins with the invocation of the Lord's Prayer,
06:22emphasizing that he is not only my Father, but the Father of all.
06:27After praising his name and acknowledging his holiness,
06:31The prayer includes seven petitions or blessings.
06:36The first three are theological, since they lead us towards the glory of the Father.
06:43The last four are more related to our humanity
06:48and present our needs and miseries so that He may transform them with His grace.
06:57On this subject I invite you to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 2803.
07:05Now, let's see what Jesus tells us about fasting.
07:11You can read this in chapter 6, from verse 16 to 18.
07:17Fasting was a common practice among the Jews,
07:22But Jesus teaches us to live it in a discreet way, without seeking to attract attention.
07:30According to Holy Scripture, many in that era and in that culture
07:37They used to tear their clothes and cover their faces with ashes when they fasted,
07:45making their sacrifice evident.
07:48Regarding this action, the prophet Joel said
07:52that what needed to be torn apart was the heart, not the clothes.
08:00Today, unfortunately, fasting has lost its place in our spiritual life.
08:06We have narrowed it down to specific days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday,
08:12forgetting the strength and grace that this practice offers us
08:19when it is done with faith and sincerity.
08:25In the Sermon on the Mount,
08:27Jesus continues to develop central themes for the Christian life.
08:34It teaches us about the value of storing up treasures in heaven and not earthly riches,
08:41For true treasure lies where the heart is.
08:47It also explains that the way we look at others,
08:51Whether with generosity or contempt, it reflects our relationship with God.
08:57who should be our only Lord above money.
09:02Jesus invites us to trust in divine providence,
09:06using birds and lilies as examples,
09:10who are cared for by God.
09:13He urges us not to judge others,
09:16remembering that only God is the just judge,
09:20and highlights the goodness of the Heavenly Father who gives to his children according to his love,
09:27not our merits.
09:29It also presents the golden rule,
09:33treat others as we would like to be treated,
09:36and warns about the two paths,
09:39The wide path that leads to perdition and the narrow path that leads to life.
09:44It also encourages discernment between true and false prophets,
09:50recognizing them by their fruits.
09:52Finally, he compares those who listen to and practice his words to someone who builds on rock,
10:00while those who do not put them into practice are like someone who builds on sand,
10:07exposed to collapse.
10:10These teachings fill their listeners with awe,
10:14who recognize in him a unique authority.
10:18Jesus' teaching would not have been complete if it had been limited solely to his words.
10:27His actions in favor of the poor and sick
10:31They make it clear that he has received from God the power to carry out what he proclaims.
10:38At the same time, these works show that the salvation offered
10:44It encompasses the entirety of the human being.
10:48These works are the miracles that we will see in our next class.
10:53So, see you next time.
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