Reflection - Motives

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062117.cfm
II Corinthians 9:6-11
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Motives provide motivation. That's simple enough.

They supply the inspiration, the incentive, the impetus to do whatever we do. A motive may frequently wait in the shadows or hide in a secretive place watching to see if the desire it has promoted is realized. We often refer to the person acting upon such a reclusive motive as having a hidden agenda. I may, for example, visit the local car dealerships with the real but spurious claim that my present car gets poor gas mileage. However, an honest calculation will quickly show that the savings from even doubling my gas mileage will take decades to offset the cost of a new car. This is the person J.P. Morgan was referring to when he said: "A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason." The apparent motive is not necessarily the true motive.

In law, especially criminal law, a motive is the cause that moves people to perform a certain action. Motive, in itself, is not an element of any given crime; however, motive makes plausible the accused's reasons for committing a crime. Detectives, investigators and district attorneys are always looking for motivation; and the criminal always knows the importance of keeping motives hidden. "Why would I kill Joe Brownose? I always liked the guy." The logic behind motive in criminal cases also applies to the ordinary, day-to-day aspects of life. Motive, in itself, is not an element of any given action; however, motive offers a rationale for the action. 

In many cases we may have multiple motives. For example: I go to this social gathering because the host has good food, because I enjoy the company of the people he invites, because it may offer an opportunity to promote myself to an employer who has a great job opening, because I think the woman I met at his last gathering might also show up, because I have nothing better to do, because I don't want to be bored spending an evening by myself, etc.

Jesus talks about motivation in today's reading from the Gospel of Matthew. His opening remark sets the tone. "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them." What follows addresses three different types of spiritual works: Do not make a fanfare of your generosity. Do not do your praying in the crowded marketplace. Don't adopt the role of the starving zombie when you fast. And in each case Jesus also offers directives on 'appropriate' behavior: Keep your charity secret. Pray in private. Keep your spiritual practices to yourself. 

This teaching comes at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, so it is not unexpected that Jesus should begin his public ministry talking about the good that good men already do: pray, fast, give alms. He will soon advance his teaching to challenge them at a higher level; but here he presumes that the people are already engaged in those spiritual actions that are promoted in the Old Testament. His words merely suggest that we might want to consider the manner in which we engage in these activities and whether there is an element of social posturing which accompanies them. His reason for the suggestion? Social posturing would suggest that the good works are lacking in proper motivation. 

That brings us to the question for the day. Is there a part of my life that I can sequester in a private room? Can my commitment to give glory to my Heavenly Father be a limited commitment? Is there any activity in life where the motive for the performance of that action should not be the glory of God?

Our Act of Contrition opens with an interesting line appropriate to our reflection here: "O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended thee because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended thee my God, who are all good and worthy of all my love." Even in our sinfulness we acknowledge the weakness of our dual motivation for seeking reconciliation and proclaim the purity of a motivation based only in love. 

Not so many years ago a musician singing a pop song cłaimed that "Everything I do, I do it for you." For the one in love is there anything worth doing which is not done for the beloved?