February 22nd Reflection by Bill Lynch

Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (NRSV)
The practice of faith
"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. ...

"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.

Reflection
Be sincere at what you do. Don't do things for show. Especially those things that involve our relationship with God. God doesn't need to be humored by me or anyone else. If you're going to pray then pray to God. Don't pray to put on a show or to be recognized by someone else. If you going to do something out of love, glorify God not yourself. It's not about you being a goody-goody. God can raise you even out of the dust. It's about God's love living in and through you to God's glory.

Prayer
Lord, lead me in honest relationship with you and those you give to me. --- Amen