Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18
Modern Christianity is all about marketing. Every "ministry" has a website, aggressive social media platforms, and access to vast multimedia empires of print and digital formats. Content creation and marketing are the name of the game. And for what purpose? Are we singing "How Great Thou Art" or are we instead singing "How Great We Art?" Are we about the care of souls, or are we instead about the care of the message in order to pay our large salaries, care for our vast real estate holdings, and keep the bottom line healthy?
Jesus gives us a very simple marketing strategy in today's Gospel portion. We are to go about doing good to others, not seeking any fame or limelight. We are to pray and fast without anyone noticing we are doing so. We are not to seek any notoriety of any kind as we go about doing what Jesus did: healing people of their infirmities, liberating people from their demons, nourishing people at table - all while finding quiet places alone to pray and be with God.
Today, as always, our task is to focus entirely on the work of caring for others. That alone is our marketing. The care of others led great crowds to Jesus without any fanfare or promotion. If we truly love and care for others, then that is enough, for that is the Gospel, and that alone is authentic attraction to the work. If we require anything else, then we are not about the Gospel but ourselves.
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