What is Ash Wednesday?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter. If you belong to a more traditional church, there is usually a worship service at night, with an imposition of ashes from the minister with the words, "Remember you are to dust, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:19
This may seem a little morbid, but sometimes it is good to ponder the limitations of our humanity, and put our lives in perspective. It is also good to set aside a good chunk of time to focus on what Jesus, the Son of God, did for us on the cross. Holy Week is a re-enactment of Jesus' last days on earth. On Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples. On Good Friday, we remember Jesus' last words on the cross when he was crucified by men, despite doing nothing wrong. And on Easter morning we proclaim, "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed,"
And many times during Lent people will take on a spiritual discipline, like "fasting". Fasting is abstaining from something in your life to have a greater focus on God and your relationship with Him. You can give up certain food or drinks, or spend more time reading the bible or praying. One discipline Jesus talks about today in His Sermon on the Mount, is the discipline of "secrecy". This is doing a good deed for someone else, but not telling anyone about it. Sometimes we do good things to get a "pat on the back", or for approval from others. Jesus says when we give don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Meaning keep it to yourself, and realize God sees your acts of kindness. And when we pray find a quiet and secret place, so as not to do it to receive attention for it.
These are good things to remember during the season of Lent, as we spend time contemplating what Jesus has done for us and responding in faith and good works. I especially am interested in the discipline of "secrecy" so you might try this one. It is a way of crucifying the flesh, which always wants to be noticed. It is a good way to be motivated to do something for God alone. Pray about what God might want for you. God bless you during this special time of the Church year.
God, may these 40 days be a time to remember all you have done for us. As we enter into a time of discipline may it lead to a greater awareness of what you have done for us, and what you are doing in our lives. We look forward to the end of this time when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection and proclaim, "He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!" Amen.
Matthew 6:1-6
Giving to the Needy
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 “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. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-21
Fasting
16 “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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This may seem a little morbid, but sometimes it is good to ponder the limitations of our humanity, and put our lives in perspective. It is also good to set aside a good chunk of time to focus on what Jesus, the Son of God, did for us on the cross. Holy Week is a re-enactment of Jesus' last days on earth. On Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples. On Good Friday, we remember Jesus' last words on the cross when he was crucified by men, despite doing nothing wrong. And on Easter morning we proclaim, "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed,"
And many times during Lent people will take on a spiritual discipline, like "fasting". Fasting is abstaining from something in your life to have a greater focus on God and your relationship with Him. You can give up certain food or drinks, or spend more time reading the bible or praying. One discipline Jesus talks about today in His Sermon on the Mount, is the discipline of "secrecy". This is doing a good deed for someone else, but not telling anyone about it. Sometimes we do good things to get a "pat on the back", or for approval from others. Jesus says when we give don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Meaning keep it to yourself, and realize God sees your acts of kindness. And when we pray find a quiet and secret place, so as not to do it to receive attention for it.
These are good things to remember during the season of Lent, as we spend time contemplating what Jesus has done for us and responding in faith and good works. I especially am interested in the discipline of "secrecy" so you might try this one. It is a way of crucifying the flesh, which always wants to be noticed. It is a good way to be motivated to do something for God alone. Pray about what God might want for you. God bless you during this special time of the Church year.
God, may these 40 days be a time to remember all you have done for us. As we enter into a time of discipline may it lead to a greater awareness of what you have done for us, and what you are doing in our lives. We look forward to the end of this time when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection and proclaim, "He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!" Amen.
Matthew 6:1-6
Giving to the Needy
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 “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. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-21
Fasting
16 “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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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