Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

---

Read

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (NRSV)

“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.

“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.
…
“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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

---

Reflect

My mother delighted in telling stories from my childhood that she knew would embarrass me. She thought they were cute. Like the time in a nice restaurant, believing that I wasn’t garnering enough attention, I decided to push all my dinner off the highchair tray onto the floor. Or the temper tantrum I threw at the state fair when my dad wouldn’t buy me an ID bracelet. I am an extrovert and an entertainer. In my early days I expected to be the center of attention at whatever cost. As an adult, I am a little past craving the spotlight—I think.

It recently came to light that Mike Ilitch, the founder of Little Caesar’s Pizza and one-time owner of the Detroit Tigers and the Red Wings, had quietly arranged for Rosa Parks to move to a safer apartment after she was robbed in her Detroit home. He paid her rent for more than a decade. When Ilitch died, a friend of his and a fellow participant in the civil rights struggle shared the story of Ilitch’s generosity. All was done quietly, with no publicity, no recognition.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Today we begin our liturgical journey with Jesus that will culminate at the cross and, joyously, at an empty tomb. Some of us will practice the imposition of ashes and we will go through the rest of our day with a black smudge on our foreheads. Some people we encounter will know what is signified and someone will ask, “Do you know you have something on your face?” That cross on our foreheads is not to show off our piety, or even to encourage others to ask about its significance. It is so the world will see the practice of our faith and our faith journey.

---

Pray

God of the journey, as we walk this road that Christ walked, we are aware of the journey on which we embark. Help us to look deep within ourselves to become aware of our needs and struggles. May we give them to you. You lighten our burdens if we but let you. You hold out your arms to give us strength and comfort. In this holy season we are yours. Amen.

Go with God.