Good Deeds Do Not Go Unnoticed And Unrewarded

 

People and God notice good deeds.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, August 26th, 2023 Texts: Ruth 2:1-3.8-11; 4:13-17; Psalm 128:1-5; Matthew 23:1-12 

We learn from today’s first reading that good deeds do not go unnoticed and unrewarded. People and God notice good deeds. This is true in the life of Ruth. This is clear in the words of Boaz to Ruth: “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.”  

We see from what happened to Ruth that a reward for good deeds is favour before men and God. Ruth won favour before Boaz for her good deeds, for he allowed her to glean in his field. A woman who loved for nothing won everything. God gave her every good thing a woman desires: good husband and children of pride and joy. The book we read today was written in her honour. Her name is never forgotten in the Royal line of Israel; her son became the great grandfather of king David. We read, “They named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” 

 If I preach for the sake of goodness, I will practice what I preach

Jesus Christ invites us, today, to do good not for honour, praise or to be noticed but to be good. If I preach for the sake of goodness, I will practice what I preach. Ruth did not do good for honour, praise or to be noticed; they came with it. She did not love and care for her mother-in-law to be noticed or praised by Boaz. It was not also because she wanted to marry Boaz. She loved for nothing. She loved for the sake of goodness. 

We lose our moral rectitude if we do good for honour, praise and recognition. It is this way of life that Jesus condemns in today’s gospel reading. He says, “They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.”  

Jesus asks us not to do good for accolades, titles or appellation. Jesus  invites us to seek greatness by the life of service and humility. In His words: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Prayer 

Almighty God, You have called us to do good, grant that we may do good with the right attitude; give us Spirit of service and humility and heal us of desire for honour, praise or recognition. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke