Finding little inspiration for blogging today, and while I
really should be studying for my Christian Theology II exam, I will make some
reflections on the Lectionary reading from Matthew for Ash Wednesday.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [The whole point of this Lenten reflection blog is not for people to read it and see how smart I am, but to engage with my journey to the cross]
6:2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[In Scripture, there is nothing worse than a hypocrite. Remember they are the ones who walk around with the logs in their own eyes]
6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[A little hyperbolic right, but the message is consistent. Don’t let everyone know when you are helping someone out, you don’t need approval from them, God has got your back]
6:5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[For the longest time, I never liked to pray in public, but associate pastor, I pray the invocation every Sunday. I oftentimes am afraid of saying something dumb, or stumbling over my words, I am not doing it for a reward.]
6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [I remember I fasted for a week once, and I kept telling everyone about it. That was a bad move I think on my part. I should fast more. We read about it in Spiritual Formation class, but I still have not got onboard with regular fasting]
6:18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Earthly treasures pass away. I am so concerned with our finances and provisions right now, it is almost unbearable. I need to live into the reality that when I am concerned with money and “treasures” I am out of tune with the service of God. I need to be listening more to the Holy Spirit and worrying less about temporal things.]
6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [The whole point of this Lenten reflection blog is not for people to read it and see how smart I am, but to engage with my journey to the cross]
6:2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[In Scripture, there is nothing worse than a hypocrite. Remember they are the ones who walk around with the logs in their own eyes]
6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[A little hyperbolic right, but the message is consistent. Don’t let everyone know when you are helping someone out, you don’t need approval from them, God has got your back]
6:5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.[For the longest time, I never liked to pray in public, but associate pastor, I pray the invocation every Sunday. I oftentimes am afraid of saying something dumb, or stumbling over my words, I am not doing it for a reward.]
6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [I remember I fasted for a week once, and I kept telling everyone about it. That was a bad move I think on my part. I should fast more. We read about it in Spiritual Formation class, but I still have not got onboard with regular fasting]
6:18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Earthly treasures pass away. I am so concerned with our finances and provisions right now, it is almost unbearable. I need to live into the reality that when I am concerned with money and “treasures” I am out of tune with the service of God. I need to be listening more to the Holy Spirit and worrying less about temporal things.]
Lord, help me to focus my efforts on you. Help me not to draw attention to myself, be
allow me the grace and humility to be disciplined enough to allow your Spirit
to work through me in these days of lent, and beyond.
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