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?