In Our Secret

“ but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Matthew 6:18b NKJV

The first section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6) shines a light on our spirituality, highlighting three realities of our relationship with God the Father, specifically almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. When I reread this text, I am led to compare our relationship with God to a circular table, where almsgiving (free contribution), prayer (in all its forms), and fasting constitute the three legs. This text in a Gospel, originally addressed to Christianity of Jewish origin, challenges the cornerstones of our faith, which we can consider in two ways. The first is not to be hypocritical. Hypocrisy, a typical characteristic of today's society, is nothing more than hiding, not showing others what is real. The hypocrite is someone who, wearing a mask, seeks to be flattered. Jesus, on the other hand, invited us not to be hypocritical in our prayers, almsgiving, or fasting. He advised us to distance ourselves from the attitude of the Pharisees, who at that time were the epitome of hypocrisy. No one who has known God and tasted His gift can fail to be sincere.

The second challenge refers to the Father, whom Jesus mentions in the model prayer as “your Father who is in heaven.” Contrary to the mistaken belief that God is distant, the opposite is true. Just think of the expression “the Lord who sees in secret” to understand that He is so close that He sees in secret. We tend to hide our thoughts, feelings, and much more, falling into hypocritical attitudes. Scripture strips us of this attitude because nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the real motivations that drive us to give alms, to pray, or to fast. It is where we think we are alone that we are tested to challenge our faith; there, where even the walls cannot hear, God is present. When Elijah took refuge in the cave on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19), he found himself in silence. It was there that his life was shaken by an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake; a strong wind arose, but God was not in it; then a fire, but He was not there either. Then the prophet heard a still small voice asking him, “What are you doing here?” That place perfectly represents the “secret,” where no one can hear or see and where the Lord is the only one who can make His voice heard. The Father not only hears, but in secret He also sees all the situations that no one knows about. The Lord is the One who hears the voice of our cry (Psalm 6:8) and sees every tear we shed (Psalm 6:6) and knows how to listen to its sound. A tear makes no sound, yet He is able to hear it.

While we tend to hide, He makes His work manifest so that His glory may be seen in our lives. He who sees in secret then rewards publicly because, unlike us, He is not hypocritical. Whether they are prayers of suffering, weeping or desolation, or acts of mercy for others, or even fasting for the intercession of others, and whatever else happens in secret, God sees it. He is in secret! It is difficult to hear God in the midst of so many people, which is why it is important that we cross the desert. In the desert there is silence and solitude, but God is the One who traces a path in the desert: He opens a way, brings forth life, and brings joy where there is pain. Let us pause to consider that the Father who is in heaven is also in our secret place; He wants to do something in our lives that will then be made public, even if this does not depend solely on Him. The people of Israel remained in the desert for forty years. We do not know, nor can we determine how long our desert will be, but we can decide whether to walk alone or with God: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...” (Psalm 23:4). If God is with us, we should not fear any desert or desolation. The key is to know that He is in secret and will prove it publicly against all or anything that wants to discourage us, for God is faithful.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #33

August 11, Psalms 81-83; Romans 11:19-36

August 12, Psalms 84-86; Romans 12

August 13, Psalms 87-88; Romans 13

August 14, Psalms 89-90; Romans 14

August 15, Psalms 91-93; Romans 15:1-13

August 16, Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

August 17, Psalms 97-99; Romans 16