Today’s Words of inspiration come from Matthew, chapter 6, verses 1 and 5-6
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1; 5-6
Hear today's words of hope
Having just had the imposition of ashes at the Interfaith Peace Chapel at Noon, I walked slowly back to my truck, enjoying an unusually warm and pleasant Ash Wednesday. Even amidst the noise of departing airplanes over my head from Love Field, I took a few moments to allow the peace of Christ and his calling to me for Lent seep into my heart. I prayed a bit in the front seat of the truck and then began the trip back home. Soon I was in traffic, the radio was on, and my mind drifted elsewhere.
Feeling a bit hungry at noontime, I went through a local drive-thru. When I got to the cashier, she looked at me and smiled.
“Have you been to church today?” she asked.
“Why yes…how could you tell?” I replied.
She giggled and said “It’s written all over your face!”
I laughed as I looked in the rear-view mirror and remembered I had the sign of the cross on my forehead.
Having been nurtured in a tradition that celebrates Ash Wednesday, I’ve always been a bit conflicted about that ashy cross on my forehead. Some suggest that you leave your ashes on your forehead until the end of the day, bearing witness to your faith. Others suggest that you should wipe them off your forehead before you leave the church, following the directive from Christ in Matthew 6 not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.
I think I find myself in a different place. It’s not about the ashes or the forehead. It’s about what the cashier said. My faith is meant to be written all over my face. Even more, it’s meant to be displayed by my hands, my feet, my attitude, and my presence. It’s not about practicing righteousness in front of others. It’s about being a disciple, a simple follower of Jesus, and doing what the master does.
The Sunday before this particular Ash Wednesday, at the baptism of Hudson Gray Perry, Pastor Neil prayed this blessing on Hudson and on all of us. After this particular Ash Wednesday, I’ll add one additional sentence to this beautiful blessing.
Let us pray:
May your ears always hear the beauty of creation.
May your mind always be open.
May your eyes see only truth and your mouth speak only love.
May your hands build bridges.
May your feet journey into new lands.
May your heart be filled with love.
May your FACE tell a story of your compassion.
May you have the courage for this journey into freedom and may the oil of gladness always anoint your head. Amen.
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