Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting – Three observances that can become pretty routine if we do not consider their gospel requirements in-depth. Let’s try….
Almsgiving: How can the left hand not know what the right hand is doing when both hands are on one body? Matthew 6:3. Well, maybe if we don’t pay an extra minute’s attention to what the right hand just gave out, the left hand will not know about it. ‘Thank you, next’ is the title of a popular pop-song. Maybe if we assume that attitude: Give out the alms, say a silent prayer of gratitude to the God who has blessed us with the privilege of having something to share or sacrifice, and move right along to the next thing. We avoid the tendency to pat ourselves on the back for being good or generous. We literarily forget about what the right hand has just done and resist the seduction of the applause of men and similar acknowledgments. Then when we are receiving our reward in heaven, and Jesus thanks us for blessing Him, we will be the one asking Him to remind us: Lord (please remind me), when did I see you hungry or thirsty? (Matthew 25:44-words in parenthesis added)
Prayer: We cherish communal prayer but we take care that we are not seeking to be noticed during communal prayers and devotions. We deliberately promote personal and private communion with God, implying by our closet-prayers that we believe God is really everywhere and truly hears us at anytime. As with almsgiving, we focus on down-playing the commendations of our Christian brothers and sisters who like to refer to us as Prayer-Warriors. We shun the praise of men and refer any such praise to the Holy Spirit who inclines us to and directs our prayer. We make the effort to ensure that we are not just saying prayers, but that our spirits are connecting with the Holy Spirit’s leading, so that our prayers can be effectual. We keep in mind that we are praying to our Heavenly Father, and consider Him with the highest levels of reverence and love, more than we show our earthly fathers. We then trust and rest in his providential mercies.
Fasting: We remind ourselves that fasting is the humbling of our souls and not our bodies, Psalm 35:13. We pray for grace and supernatural strength to persevere, and avoid doing it by our own strength. We take extra care to retain the same sense of dressing and demeanor that we wear when we are not fasting. We are not seeking to be recognized as holy saints by our neighbors or co-workers.
May God help us to observe this Lenten Season in humility and charity. Amen.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 