So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full…
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full…
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full… Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
“Matthew records Jesus addressing the three traditional practices of Lent: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. He shows us the non spontaneous way of doing these things. In the first example, alms are given to the poor in order to win the praise of others; prayer is done ostentatiously in public, again, to win the praise of others; finally, fasting is done in a way that attracts attention and, presumably, the approval and praise of others.
What is wrong with each of these acts? They are all premeditated, they all lack spontaneity. The practices we begin on Ash Wednesday and continue throughout Lent are designed to increase our spontaneity… So, whatever you have chosen to do this Lent, whether it be fasting, almsgiving, or prayer, do it spontaneously. Do it without counting the cost or credit.”
Michael Bulson in Preach What You Believe: Timeless Homilies for Deacons (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 2005) 61-62.
Today marks the beginning of Lent, a season of self-examination and repentance. Think of it as a time for training ourselves to give to the poor, pray, and fast following the instructions of Jesus, so these practices become a natural, spontaneous way of life for us after Lent.
Some, however, adopt Lenten disciplines out of peer pressure. While it may sound silly, it’s easy to perform these practices for the praise of people. Bulson charges us to rise above the expectations of others. We can anticipate greater rewards from God if we approach these disciplines rightly.
Take time to read Matthew 6:1-18 today, and think honestly about your giving to the poor, your prayer life, and what you may need to fast from in order to “feast on Jesus” as my wife, Jenni, likes to say. The ironic twist, for those who follow the instructions of Jesus, is that the rewards far outweigh any sacrifice on our part.
If you have never observed Lent, perhaps start this year. Here are two free resources to help you along the way. Click here to get a two-page Lent Calendar from my wife, Jenni, and click here to download the Lent Companion that I compiled a few years ago. Blessed travels on your Lenten journey, Godspeed.