From the Gospel according to Matthew
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.”

Hidden Mystery

Lord, today You tell us that my struggle is in what is hidden, it is my inside, it is in my heart. And that is where You want to do Your Work.
The work of God is imperceptible to human eyes; only God the Father, who sees what is hidden, can perceive it.
That’s why, every time I welcome my husband when he is unpleasant with me, You make gentleness grow in me.
And every time I give myself and serve him breakfast when I don’t feel like it, You make the gift of being helpful grow in my heart.
And in that giving and welcoming between us, my heart and my husband’s heart are shaped by Yours, little by little, in the hidden things, You are doing Your Work. The two hearts merge into Yours, and then, through the sacrament of marriage, You are present and make Communion between us possible.
What a great mystery! A mighty God working in the small and the hidden!

Applied to Married Life:

María: Today I’m tired, honestly, but Sergio is coming home late and I’m sure he’ll want to eat when he gets here, so I’ll prepare something for him.
Sergio: Hi María, I’m home. Why does the whole house smell like food? I’ve told you a thousand times to turn on the extractor; the house smells awful…
(Then, María remembers the Gospel from the morning, that the Lord’s work is in the hidden things, and in welcoming her husband into her heart).
María: Yes, you’re right, you know I’m very forgetful and don’t notice these things…
(Sergio is thoughtful… and inside, he thinks about how María is preparing dinner after a whole day of work, and she doesn’t even say anything when he criticizes her for not turning on the extractor).
Sergio: María, years ago you would’ve pointed out that I came late, and that you made dinner, especially after I criticized you about the extractor… How you’ve changed since you’ve been praying!
María: Yes, Sergio, today in prayer the Lord showed me that the struggle is in my heart, where no one can see.
Sergio: Well, I also want to hear the Lord like you do. Would you help me to be persistent in prayer, like you?
María: Of course, darling, nothing would make me happier than praying together.
(And after some time, the Lord continued to work in them and in their children).

Mother,

Thank you for holding our hands and showing us the hidden Mystery in God. Lead us further each day so that we can be with Him and in Him, just like You do, Mother. We are all Yours!