Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 "(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
5 "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
16 "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
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Welcome to Lent!
Christ gives us instruction on Lenten disciplines.
During Lent we use tried and true spiritual disciplines -- prayer, fasting, and almsgiving -- to draw closer and closer to Christ. As Christ says in the gospel, these disciplines are between us and our Lord. We are to go about our lives as usual, and enter into these spiritual disciplines privately, or at least without fanfare. One thing I'm trying to focus on is that there is no gain from making my efforts a statement to anyone other than the Father.
We also need to have sound purposes for these disciplines. If we're fasting to lose weight, or giving alms so that others can see us doing it, we need to look closely at what we're doing. Is it really a spiritual discipline if our goal is some type of worldly gain?
