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1 "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. 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. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father 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. 6 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.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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father 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; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 NRSV)
A blessed and wonderful Monday to you, dear Friend. May the joy of the Lord be your strength today. Bless those around you with prayer and joy. Smile more, laugh more, and invite others to laugh with you. In all things, we are never alone; God is with us, and God is good.
Praying in public is not for everyone. I've known ministers who refused to pray on the spot; one asked his Rotary Club to give him a 30-day notice before he would pray at the club's meal. The old adage was that a Methodist minister should be ready for three things; to pray, to preach, and to eat. That list varies from region to region, but this is perhaps the most common. I learned to be prepared to pray when asked, and while it has always made me quite nervous I sought to be a listener first as I visited with people and if asked, I could pray and ask God for the blessings as the needs were shared. Some lay people are quite the experts at public prayers and some share some nuggets worth repeating. One called to pray for the Sunday offering, happened to be the treasurer of the church and when he prayed, he said es español these exact words: "Chihuahua, Señor; por estas migajas te damos gracias." Translated: Chihuahua, Lord, for these crumbs we give you thanks." Okay, sounds funnier en español. My biggest fear came when I visited my home church in Houston and our new pastor was there. He had heard, more often than he wanted to, more than likely from my parents, that I was in seminary preparing to be a pastor. So, on seeing me in worship, without warning, he called on me to do the pastoral prayer. Gulp! I had heard my new pastor pray before and he was a PhD level person of prayer; And I barely considered myself a GED* as in Get 'Er Done, prayer person. But God provided and all was well.
I love that Jesus loved prayer and in teaching His disciples about, we can sense that love and joy that Jesus had in connecting with God. And this is key because we are starting our Lenten journey this Wednesday with it being Ash Wednesday, the starting point of our 40 days, like Jesus, as we seek to get right with God in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Prayer is the starting point for our journey and we will discuss this here.
As we journey through Lent, Jesus calls us to examine the intentions behind our actions. In this passage, Jesus warns against the temptation to practice acts of piety—such as giving, praying, and fasting—simply to gain the approval or admiration of others. This defeats the entire purpose of Lent. This passage challenges us to look inward and reflect on the authenticity of our faith. Are we performing religious acts for the glory of God, or are we seeking to draw attention to ourselves?
Lent is a season of renewal, a time for personal reflection and spiritual growth. It is an opportunity to make our relationship with God the focus of our lives, rather than seeking external validation. Jesus encourages us to act with humility and sincerity, keeping our devotion between us and God, knowing that our Father who sees in secret will reward us.
Jesus also reminds us of the impermanence of earthly treasures and encourages us to store up treasures in heaven. Earthly wealth and recognition fade away, but the treasures we build through acts of love, service, and devotion are eternal. The focus of our hearts should not be on what we can gain in this life, but on the rich rewards of a life lived faithfully in God’s presence.
As we observe this season of Lent, let us strive to live with authenticity in our faith, turning away from the desire for earthly accolades, and seeking only to please our Heavenly Father. In this, we may discover a deeper peace and joy than anything the world can offer.
PRAYER: Loving God, we come before You today, grateful for Your love and grace. In this season of Lent, help us to examine our hearts. May we turn away from the desire for recognition and seek to serve You in humility and truth. Teach us to give, pray, and fast not for the approval of others, but as acts of devotion to You alone. Help us to store up treasures in heaven, where true joy and peace are found. May our hearts be set on You and Your kingdom, not the fleeting rewards of this world. In Jesus' strong name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Starting today, take time to evaluate your motives. Ask yourself, “Am I doing this for God's glory or my own?” Commit to at least one act of kindness or service this week that no one will know about but God. Remember that the truest rewards are those unseen, given in secret, and held by the Father.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
