Who Is Your Audience?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever done something nice and then immediately hoped someone noticed? Maybe you cleaned the kitchen. Nobody said thank you. Maybe you volunteered for something at church. Nobody mentioned it. Maybe you made a sacrifice for your family, and somehow they acted as if it was completely normal.

And suddenly, what began as a good deed turns into: “Seriously? Nobody saw that?” If we’re honest, most of us know exactly what that feels like.

And that is why today’s Gospel is so uncomfortable. Jesus talks about giving, praying, and fasting – three very holy things. Over and over He says: “Do not perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” In other words, Jesus is asking a question that cuts right to the heart: Who is your audience? Because there is a huge difference between living for God and performing for people. The Pharisees loved public religion. They wanted everyone to know they prayed. Everyone to know they fasted. Everyone to know they gave generously.

Today, things aren’t much different. We live in a world where everything is shared. People post their vacations. Their workouts. Their meals. Their achievements. Sometimes I wonder if Jesus were preaching this Gospel today, He might say: “When you fast, do not post a selfie with the caption: ‘Feeling weak but trusting God.'”

The point isn’t that sharing is wrong. The point is that the human heart loves applause. And Jesus knows it. The scary thing is that we can even turn our relationship with God into a performance. We can pray to impress. Serve to be appreciated. Give to be admired. Volunteer to be noticed. And before we know it, we’re no longer seeking God. We’re seeking an audience. Jesus says: “Your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Think about that. The God who created galaxies notices the hidden sacrifices no one else sees. The prayer whispered in exhaustion. The act of forgiveness nobody knows about. The generosity that receives no recognition. The struggle against temptation fought in silence. The tears shed while trusting Him. Nothing is hidden from God. And maybe that’s why secret acts of love are so powerful. Because they reveal who we’re really doing it for.

One day, every human applause will fade. Every compliment will be forgotten. Every social media post will disappear into the endless void of the internet. But the gaze of God remains.

And maybe that is the invitation of today’s Gospel: To stop performing. To stop managing our image. To stop needing everyone else’s approval. And to discover the freedom of living for an audience of One. Because when God is enough, the opinions of the crowd lose their power. And when His love becomes our reward, we no longer need applause.

Prayer: Father, You see what no one else sees. You know the sacrifices, struggles, prayers, and acts of love hidden in my heart. Free me from the need for recognition. Free me from living for the approval of others. Teach me to seek Your face more than human praise. Help me to pray, give, and serve because I love You. May my life be lived not for the crowd, but for You alone. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko