Righteousness and Men

'Attendite,' inquit, 'ne justitiam vestram faciatis coram hominibus ut videamini ab eis: alioquin mercedem non habetis apud Patrem vestrum qui in coelis est.' Et quomodo quod fit hominibus coram hominibus non fit? Patentis justitiae latet sensus, publici operis quod secretum? Qui potest celare radios solis justitiae poterit occultare fulgorem. Justitia lux rerum consiliis non velatur obscuris. Justitia cum sibi facto claret, omnes illustrat exemplo. Et quid est quod eam Dominus coram hominibus fieri non vult, per quam statum capiunt res humanae? Et ubi est illud: 'Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum qui in coelis est?' Quomodo justitiam vult celare, cujus opera vult sic elucere? Fratres, hic praeceptio coelestis vult jactantiam tollere, auferre pompam, vanitatem demere, submovere inanem gloriam: sic justitiam vult celare. Justitia quae per se sibi abundat ad gloriam, spectaculum populi, vulgi laudes, favores hominum, mundi gloriam non requirit: a Deo genita spectat; in oculis agit divinis; supernis virtutibus mixta semper a Deo solo, ut glorificetur, exspectat. Sed haec est justitia, quae ex Deo est; illa vero justitia quae est hypocrisis, justitia non est: mentitur oculis, fallit aspectum, videntibus illudit, decipit audientes, seducit turbas, trahit populos, famam vendit, emit clamorem, fit saeculo, Deo non fit, mercedem rapit praesentem, praemium non quaerit in futuro. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo IX

'Take care,' He said, 'lest your righteousness be done in the presence of men that you be seen by them, lest a reward you shall not have from your Father who is in heaven.'  1 And how may it be done among men and not in the presence of men be done? Where hides the sense of open righteousness, what is the secret of public deeds? Who is able to hide the rays of the sun of righteousness he could conceal lightening. Righteousness, the light of things, should not be veiled with obscure counsel. Righteousness done blazes forth, enlightening all things by its example. And now why does the Lord not want it done in the presence of men, by which doing men witness it? And is it not said, 'So let your light shine among men, that they see your good works and they glorify your Father who is in heaven?'  2 How does he wish to conceal righteousness , the work of which he wishes to shine forth? Brothers, with heavenly teaching he wishes to take away boasting, to carry away pomp, to be rid of vanity, to drive off vainglory. So he wishes to conceal that righteousness. The righteousness that in itself is rich in glory has no need of being seen by the people, it does not need the praise of crowds, the pleasure of men, the delight of the world; let it see that it is born of God, that in the eyes of the Divine it is done, that amid the higher powers it hopes that it be glorified always by God alone. This is the righteousness which is from God. That righteousness which is hypocrisy is not righteousness, it lies to the eyes, wears a false appearance, plays tricks by appearance, deceives listeners, seduces mobs, drags away peoples, sells renown, buys clamour, acts for the age and not for God, seizes on present reward, and does not seek it in the future. Saint Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 9 1. Mt 6.1 2 Mt 5.16