e-vo for week of Ash Wednesday

Dearest e-votees-

Remember you are dust. And to dust you shall return. (see Genesis 3:19)

Peace,
Karl

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[Jesus speaking] “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. 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. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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. 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.

o o o

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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, NRSV (appointed gospel for Ash Wednesday)

For whom do we perform?

Jesus sets out two distinct audiences. We can practice our piety so that God the Father is the intended audience. We can practice our piety so that other people are the intended audience. The rewards that come are from the audience we intend. Not all rewards are created equal.

Some of us give up things for Lent. Some of us take on extra disciplines for Lent. In either case there is a hope that someone will notice.

If God is the one we want to notice we will go out of our way to not draw attention to our behavior. God doesn’t need our “ahem” to draw divine attention. As we are able to stay off the human radar we will find reward from God. We may well experience a “Well done good and faithful servant.”

If the world is the one we want to notice we won’t be so careful to conceal our piety. As we are able to pull this off we draw attention to ourselves away from God. We injure our own faith journey and perhaps others that we distract. It brings millstones and deep waters to mind. (see Mark 9:42; Matthew 18:6; Luke 17:2) We may well receive accolades from others but they are cheap and tarnished prizes in comparison to that which we forfeit from the divine hand.

It might be the case that if we intently seek God’s approval and do what we can to conceal our faith practices others might yet notice. That’s not all bad. We know Jesus went off to pray. We know John had a special diet and an odd wardrobe. Paul and Mary and Martha no doubt inspired many with their piety. What people say and how they act might betray a deep love of scripture. Part of how we learn about the faith is by watching others who seem to be on the right path.

The danger is when someone on the path chooses to be a trail guide rather than just another sojourner. It’s the “Look at me! Look at me!” that is the problem.

Rewards can be passing and distracting things. We are called to make offerings for the needy (give alms) and pray and fast (give up things for a higher spiritual purpose) and store up spiritual treasures. We do this for God’s sake. If something comes our way in the form of a reward or blessing we can be thankful to God. The reward is not the goal.

As with all blessings we receive them in order to bless others. How to pass on blessings without drawing attention to ourselves is a deep and persistent challenge. It is good we have a patient, loving, forgiving, long-suffering God to help us figure it out.

God, stir us to focus on you. Help us take up and put away practices according to your good pleasure. Let your grace and forgiveness restore us when we slip. Take care of us--your dusty people. Amen.