Homily: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday (Mt. 6:1ff) “I’ve Got a Secret”
At times it is important to be seen. We need to be noticed for our own wellbeing.
When we go out running in the early morning hours, we probably don’t wear a black running suit. If we did, we might not be seen. We might get hit by a car. We want to be seen so we probably put on a reflective vest. We dress in bright colors that reflect the light.
When we go out in the woods during hunting season in the fall of the year, we probably don’t wear brown. We don’t wear green coats. If we did, someone might shoot us by mistake. Usually, we put on some orange clothing so that we couldn’t possibly be mistaken for a deer by a hunter.
Another time we want to be seen is when our car breaks down on the highway. We turn our flashers on. We light flares. If we have some kind of strobe light, we turn that on, putting it on the top of our car. We don’t want someone running over us in a passing car.
Yes, there are times when it pays to be very conspicuous. Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that there are times when we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. Jesus warns against the deadly sin of vainglory. What is this sin? Vainglory revolves around doing the right things for the wrong reasons. When we commit this sin, we want people to look at us saying, “What a holy person he/she is, look at the pious thing they are doing?”
Jesus says we can pray just to impress others. The Jewish people have several prayers that they say at various points in the day. This is the way it has been for centuries. And this is the way it was at the time that Christ lived. When a certain hour of the day came like noon, for example, a Jew was supposed to stop to say a memorized prayer. Jewish prayer could be very demonstrative. People would often pray in the orans position with their hands and arms outstretched, eyes raised to heaven or head bowed. Some Jews would make sure they were out in the street when prayer time came so they could stand in the middle of the sidewalk praying their noon prayers. Other Jews would make sure that they were at the entrance of the synagogue at that time. Everyone who passed would see them praying. The prayer that was offered was ostentatious. The prayer wasn’t about glorifying God, but it was about glorifying self. All this irritated Jesus.
Another thing he did not like was people who gave money to others in order to be noticed. All kinds of people wandered the streets of Palestine begging for money. For a great many it was an embarrassment to have to ask for support. If a person gave to the poor without humiliating them was thought to be a holy thing.
In the temple there was a special room called the chamber of silence. Pious Jews could go quietly into this room and leave money in a niche there. The patron would then leave the room without saying anything, without looking around to see who was in the room. Anyone who was in need could go into the room of silence to pick up money that they might need. Such charity was what Jesus would have approved of because he wanted his followers to keep their deeds of mercy secret.
As Lent begins, we might want to try something a little different this year. During these early days of Lent, we probably all share the acts of penance that we are going to engage in for Lent. Hopefully, we aren’t just doing one thing but several.
Maybe this year we can do one thing that is between God and us. We could try to keep this penance secret during Lent and beyond. We might find that we will have a different feeling about such a penance. We probably receive more benefit from this secret act of penance than we will from anything else we do this Lent. And according to Jesus this will be the sacrifice that is most pleasing to the Lord.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is Vainglory? Am I disappointed when people don’t notice my virtuous deeds?
2. Have I ever found out about a secret act of charity? What was and who did it?
Dear Parishioners,
Today, we have several Masses starting at 6:30 a.m. If you miss earlier Masses, you can attend our 5:45 p.m. After Mass we will have a simple soup supper. This should allow everyone to attend Mass today. Remember to pick up your rice bowls and Little Black Books when you come to Mass today.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for us today.
Fr. Mark