Saturday, February 10, 2018

ash wednesday year b - matthew

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Jesus said:
“Beware of practicing your piety before others
     in order to be seen by them;
          for then you have no reward from your Parent in heaven. 
2“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
     3But when you give alms,
          do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
               4so that your alms may be done in secret;
               and your Mother who sees in secret will reward you.

5“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.
     6But whenever you pray,
          go into your room
          and shut the door
          and pray to your Parent who is in secret;
               and your Father who sees in secret will reward you

16“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
     17But when you fast,
          put oil on your head and wash your face, 
               18so that your fasting may be seen not by others
                    but by your Parent who is in secret;
                         and your Mother who sees in secret will reward you.

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
     where moth and rust consume
     and where thieves break in and steal;
          20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
               where neither moth nor rust consumes
               and where thieves do not break in and steal. 
                    21For where your treasure is,
                         there your heart will be also."

Queeries for the text:
Is reading this same text every year on Ash Wednesday doing more harm than good?
Is Jesus doing psychological behavior modification?
Is Jesus just giving us alternative behaviors because we only do things for rewards?Why do we hear so much about hypocrisy on Ash Wednesday?
How do we evangelize if we're so good at not telling people what we're doing?
How can we care for each other's spiritual well-being if we can't talk about money and giving?
Is there any more awesome promise than verse 21?
What does my checkbook say about the location of my heart?
Where is my heart?  Where do I want my heart to be?


What are your queeries?




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