Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6; 16-18
Another Lent begins. Another Ash Wednesday is upon us where in the modern age we go to receive ashes and post pictures of ourselves with ash on forehead for social media. It is as if we had not heard the Gospel for today's Mass. Did we not hear the words about avoiding doing things in order to be seen and receive attention? As with so many things Jesus tells us to do, this is just one more that is set aside because we know better.
But if we are serious about Lent, about the fast and the putting on of ashes to repent of sin, then the words of Jesus must be taken seriously. We need not create a spectacle of ourselves in our work of repentance. People will know we have repented only when our lives have changed and we act differently than we did previously. If we are extending mercy to others, performing deeds of loving kindness in the care of others, then the fruit of repentance will be evident in those deeds and not in performative acts of the ego.
Another Lent, another opportunity to make progress in the spiritual life through prayer, penance, and acts of mercy. The only way to do these deeds authentically is to do them humbly, quietly, and with no fanfare. Perform deeds of mercy the world does not care about: visit the sick and elderly in hospitals and care facilities; visit the imprisoned with prison ministry; provide welcome to immigrants, refugees, and migrants. And don't post it on social media. Don't tell anyone. Just do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment