Ash Wednesday - Year A

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21                                                                                      

                                                                     Let Your Piety Show 

Beware of practicing your piety before others …. 

Let me go on record to say that the incidences where someone “practiced their piety before others” in an inappropriate manner is greatly outnumbered by the incidences where there is no evidence of piety to be seen.  So let me set your heart at rest if you are worried about missing out on some future, heavenly reward as a result of allowing others to see your devotion.  It just isn’t a problem.

What is a problem, what is frequently a concern, are the ways in which our impiety is out there for everyone to see.  Sloth, wrath, pride, lust, greed, envy, gluttony – there are far too many expressions of these in our interactions with others and in the behaviors which we tolerate as acceptable. 

Lest I be accused of taking liberties with Holy Scriptures, allow me to remind us of the context for Jesus’ words in Matthew 6.  It is part of what we commonly refer to as the Sermon on the Mount.  In Chapter 5, Jesus has spoken of the traditional interpretations of what it means to follow God’s Word.  We had these verses just last Sunday.  He uses the refrain, “You have heard it was said….. but I tell you….”  When I preached on that passage, the allotted time for a sermon didn’t allow me to call attention to Matthew 5:20 – “For I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  The context is Jesus recalling God’s children to follow the way offered through the Law.  The context is Jesus pointing out his moving in a different direction than that the practices and behaviors and even some of the teachings of their leaders and teachers.

“Beware of practicing your piety”…. in the way of those scribes and Pharisees.  In fact, don’t even let your neighbor see you attempting or pretending to be one of them.  When you pray – go in your closet.  When you fast – wash your face.  When you give alms – consider the effect it will have on the least among us rather than the effect it will have on those you might want to impress.

Jesus will end his sermon with these words (Matt 7:24)  “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”  Hears these words – and – acts on them.

It is far too common to give up something for Lent.  What is also a far too common practice is to announce what you are sacrificially “doing without.”  Don’t give up something during these 40 days – take on something.  Practice your piety in a way that others will see.  Live out your Lenten journey in such a way as everyone will notice.

Most of us in this room would claim some affinity with the theological traditions associated with Martin Luther.  If some of you don’t, you at least realize you chose to attend worship in a house of God which does claim some affinity with those ways of experiencing God’s grace.  For over 500 years we have taught and preached and confessed that God is not looking for opportunities to condemn us and punish us with hell-fire.  STOP REINFORCING THE MISTAKEN NOTION THAT THERE IS A RULE BOOK OR A TALLY SHEET TO WHICH WE MUST ANSWER. 

You have heard, o mortal, what the Lord requires – do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. 

The law and prophets can be summed up in this commandment – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.

Do not allow your impiety to be on display – throughout the forty days.  Set aside those visible signs of failing to have experienced the justification which is a free gift of God’s grace, given to us so no one would have a reason to boast.  Hide in the closet if you must, but do not let anyone see you express pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, sloth, greed.

Do let them see you – and make it a part of everyday to be seen expressing charity, patience, gratitude, purity, temperance, humility, and diligence.  And surely you have heard that whatever practice you keep up for a month becomes permanent.

You have been taught, “Beware of practicing your piety before others,” but I say to you make sure your devotion to Jesus is on full display in every interaction, in every conversation, and in every decision you make.  

Amen.