Lent

February 25, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Concerning Almsgiving

‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

‘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. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Concerning Prayer

‘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. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:1-6

I must admit I have no patience with coddling the wealthy to support programs for the poor. Having special rooms for them at a banquet where they are served cocktails in a private room with a harp playing in the background is not my cup of tea, while the other donors hang around in the hallways waiting for the doors open to let them in the event. Help-yourself refreshments are usually available for this group, served with coffee or tea. It apparently is the worldview of our day. Jesus set the standard when he said in Luke 12:48b, From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more, will be demanded.

Setting an example with wealth is a different story. My dad told the story that during the depression, there was a run on banks throughout Oklahoma created by fear-fed rumors that said the banks were failing and people clamored to get their money out which probably would have caused the banks to fail. In the small town of Pawnee, Oklahoma, its leading citizen, known as Pawnee Bill, Gordon William Lillie, a popular entertainer, and rancher, loaded a wheel barrel full of his money and pushed it down the main street for all to see to the bank to deposit it. People calmed down, and the bank survived to serve them.

In like manner, there is a time and place for prayer, both public and private. We truly would not know how to pray in those times of tragedy if we had not invested our time in daily communion with God.

Prayer:
Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true
And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary, oh for you*. Amen.

*”Lord Prepare Me To Be a Sanctuary Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Web. 24 Feb. 2023. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29786117/West+Angeles+C.O.G.I.C.+Angelic+%26+Mass+Choir/Lord+Prepare+Me+To+Be+a+Sanctuary>.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.