"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.
Gospel of Matthew
It's amazing the things we learn in married life. I recall times in the past when my wife would ask me to do something for her, perhaps one of those chores around the house, and I really didn't want to do it. But finally, I would reluctantly agree. You might say that I agreed to do it, but with an attitude. During these times, I would be reminded that just doing the task was not enough. It was equally important to her that I should want to do it.
It took me a long time to understand this type of thinking. For me, just doing it and getting it over should have been enough. But to actually want to do it? That was like asking too much. But is it asking to much?
I've learned that what my wife was asking for, in addition to some help, was for a response out of love. We do things for others not just to get it over, or just because we like to do it; but because we love the other person and you want what is best for them.
We can only come to this understanding by looking inward at our attitude, and by reflecting on the underlining intentions we have for doing what we do.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus singles out three recommendations for His disciples; the actions of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For the Israelites of Jesus' time, these three actions were seen as key signs of a pious person, three great pillars on which holy life was based. If you did these three things, then you would be considered a pious person.
But Jesus also pointed out to His disciples that it was not enough just to do these actions. It was also necessary to want to do them with the right attitude and intention. "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."
We have to want to do them out of a response of love. If we pray, fast and give alms for the purposes of seeking attention for ourselves or for praise from others, then it's not true piety. True piety is only present when we offer these actions in a loving intention to God in an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and surrender.
Is Jesus asking too much of us? What is the internal disposition generated when our actions flow from a response of love?
If we reflect on this carefully, we discover that our internal disposition in these cases is one of gratitude and thanksgiving. We see life as a gift from God to be treasured and held sacred before Him. Actions that flow from a response of love that generate dispositions of gratitude and thanksgiving acknowledges our desire to share these gifts with those around us. It is on this disposition that the Kingdom of God is built.
Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season is a time of preparation in order that we may be awakened to this reality. As described in the prophet Joel, it is a time when we rend, not our clothing, but our hearts and return to the Lord. The ashes that we share remind us that life as we know it is short, but our time with God is infinite, and we have much to be thankful for as we place our trust in Him.
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