Journey into Easter

Matthew 6:3, 5 & 16

Ash Wednesday, Series C

February 10, 2016

I speak to you in the Name of one God, + Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Amen.
In Alices Adventures in Wonderland, Alice says to the cat,
Will you tell me please which way I ought to go? The cat
replies, That depends a great deal on where you want to get to.
I dont care, says Alice. Then it really doesnt matter which
way you go, says the cat. As long as I get SOMEWHERE,
says Alice. The cat replies, Youre sure to do that as long as
you walk long enough.

(Lewis Carroll: Alices Adventures in Wonderland,

chapter 6)

Alice is a wanderer. She meanders through life, hoping that life

itself will provide her with the direction she seeks, but we know,
it just doesnt happen that way. The meaning and direction of
our lives emerges out of the commitments we make, and those
only become clear as we take time to enter into them in ways
that take us beyond the obvious.
As Christians, we confront this world of ours, not as bystanders,
but as people with a particular mission. WE are called to share

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in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Our capacity to respond is

directly related to the seriousness with which we approach the
journey that is before us.
I want to suggest to you at the beginning of this Lenten season
that we are on a journey to Easter, and that we need to engage in
a rhythm of solitude and action as a basis for disciplined
movement towards the journeys end.
Jesus offers a good lesson in disciplined travel along the
spiritual path. WHEN YOU GIVE ALMS, DO NOT LET
YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS
DOING. (Matthew 6:3) Notice that Jesus says, WHEN YOU GIVE
ALMS, not if you give alms. It is understood. Alms-giving is a
regular practice of piety. This is difficult for us to comprehend,
but the purpose and function of alms-giving is not primarily the
relief of suffering and hardship, but it speaks directly to the
relationship between self and God.
We give to show God what is important and significant in our
lives. God comes first. We do not depend upon the
accumulation of possessions for a sense of self-worth and

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importance. Also it is a recognition that we are caretakers of

Gods creation and all the creatures therein.
AND WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU MUST 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 MEN. (Matthew 6:5)
Jesus is not opposed to public prayer. He questions the
motivations. AND WHEN YOU PRAY (Matthew 6:5) begin in
solitude. Public prayer is but an outward expression of our
personal prayers.
AND WHENEVER YOU FAST. (Matthew 6:16) Again, not if, but
when you fast. Fasting is not dieting. The purpose is to deepen
our sense of relationship and closeness to God. As with almsgiving and prayer, we are mentally and physically reminding
ourselves that our lives are a gift from God and that he holds our
lives in his hands.
As with the temptations in the wilderness, Jesus points to the
essence of human life: MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD

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ALONE. (Matthew 4:4) YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD

OUR GOD. (Matthew 4:7) And YOU SHALL WORSHIP GOD
ALONE. (Matthew 4:10) Certainly we need food. Of course, we
want our physical life protected from the pitfalls of this world.
We know how easy it is to allow other things and other people to
crowd in upon our hearts and minds so that God becomes an
occasional diversion or distraction.
Alms-giving, prayer and fasting are positive ways, proven and
true behavior for centering on God when undertaken as Jesus
said WITH YOUR FATHER IN SECRET. (Matthew 6:4)
of reading the comics with my father bonding)

(tell the story

Here is solitude and action.

Here is theory and practice. Here is transcendence and

immanence. This is a disciplined journey to Easter. This is the
Way of the Cross. This is the Way of Jesus. This is the Way of
new and abundant life.

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Let us pray:
God of the desert, as we follow Jesus into the unknown, may we
recognize the tempter when he comes; let it be your bread we
eat, your world we serve and you along we worship.
Jesus, holy and strong, by your fasting and temptation teach us
self-denial; control and discipline us that we may learn to obey.
Spirit of grace and truth, you know by reason of our frailty we
cannot but fail, keep us always under your protection. And lead
us to all things profitable to our journeys end. AMEN.