Ash Wednesday... Almsgiving, Prayer, & Fasting.

How does anyone mean about Ash Wednesday?

Is it about fasting? Is it about religion? Is it about pretending to be a God fearing? Is it about sacrificing?  Well, maybe one could have a good answer about Ash wednesday by reading the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6:1-6, 16-18 to wit;

Jesus said to his disciples, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly father. When you give Alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hyprocites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give Alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand ad pray in the synagogues and on steet corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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.

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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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."

End of verse.....

Reflections:

ALMSGIVING, PRAYER, FASTING. these are the three traditional acts of piety that we are urged to perform as we enter the Lenten season. These practices are truly religious acts, i,e., they draw us closer to God only if they are done for God's glory. But these acts also present us with a great temptation to seek our own glory isntead of God's. Thus, we must remember to do these things "for God's  eyes only."

To seek to draw attention to ourselves when we give allms, pray or fast is to devalue those actions. To do them in order to earn praise from people is to lose the reward that matters, from God.

LENT SEASON:

L - let us

E - eliminate all

N - negative

T - thoughts and talks.