Ash Wednesday Sermon 2011

ASH WEDNESDAY March 9, 2011

Jesus said “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them;

for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do 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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21

Our Gospel lesson tonight comes from a section of Matthew known as the Sermon on the Mount. No, in case you are wondering, it is not summer rerun season yet. (Don’t rush the time!). We have spent several weeks reading and hearing the Sermon on the Mount, but this is a part that we have not gotten to yet.

Apparently the editors and higher-ups who choose our cycle of readings don’t want us to finish it yet either, because they have left a huge swath of the passage out of the line-up. You notice that printed above is Verse 1-6 and then Verse 16-21. I should have typed in the rest. What, you may ask, did they leave out in those ten verses?

Just something we call around here “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Most of us know it by heart (or think we do, because not all versions agree exactly.) They vary somewhat in style more than content.

But the interesting thing about the Lord’s Prayer (among many interesting things about the Lord’s Prayer) is where it is located geographically. The prayer is sandwiched between some things that you are asked by Jesus not to do; some “thou shall not’s.”

Our Lord tells us to be very wary of practicing our religion in such a way that glorifies us and does not glorify God. That’s the problem with many religious folks. They want you to see not just how good they are but how in control they are, like they have it all figured out in neat little catch phrases. God, enclosed in a neat little box of understanding.

The second piece of bread in our Lord’s Prayer sandwich (verses 16-21) caution us again about the superreligious. Jesus has to tell them three times about this, so we know that it must be a strong temptation to get all mightier-than-Thou in life.

But he also picks up a little something else on this prayer sandwich, the pickle on top. Do not (as if a commandment) store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust consume them and where thieves break in and steal. How come the people that want the Ten Commandments posted on every building never want this commandment posted anywhere?

I suspect that it may be a little bit too personal, stepping on some toes. We want to keep “In God We Trust” on our money, but nobody wants to write “do not store up treasures on Earth” on our money. (Maybe it’s just too long.)

Back to the prayer sandwiched between these cautions and commands: It is as if Jesus knows that it is hard not to think that we are better than someone else. And God knows literally how hard it is to fight the desire to trust in money and not in God.

So, the Gospel of Matthew gives an answer, and at the same time another treasure, which is the Prayer.

I think what Jesus is saying here is when you feel all good and righteous about yourself, that’s the time you need to talk to God. Well we know that we are supposed to pray when things are going badly, but do we forget to pray when things are going our way?

It is easy to forget to talk to God when we are on top of the world.

But when the weight of the world falls on us, we have no trouble talking to God.

Don’t wait for something bad to happen before you talk to God.

This Gospel lesson basically admits that the way to get your priorities in life in the right order is to talk to God.

Tonight we begin Lent; a time of self-reflection, increased communication with God, and a calling to sacrifice something in order to make our lives and the lives of those around us just a little better. For instance, we may decide to give up gossiping for the season, or give a little more money to the Social Ministries’ work with the poor.

Lent calls us to drop those bad habits and talk to God.

There is a show on TV called “The Biggest Loser.” It is a reality show competition to lose weight. It is good because as people lose weight, they drop some unhealthy habits and improve their health.

Lent is much like The Biggest Loser because it invites us and beckons us to prioritize the things in our life, and to talk to God.

Lent calls us to drop some bad and unhealthy habits and talk to God.

To lose the things that hold you down and hold you back, talk to God. Lose them.

I am convinced that if St. Paul’s as a congregation and as individuals would stop and talk to God, that we too could grow spiritually and emotionally. That we can lose the bad habits and customs and even the bad feelings and truly be Big Losers. I am convinced (and I have been waiting to use this line all night) that St. Paul’s will have no problem being a bunch of big losers this Lenten season.

Amen.




		ASH WEDNESDAY March 9, 2011 Jesus said “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do 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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 Our Gospel lesson tonight comes from a section of Matthew known as the Sermon on the Mount. No, in case you are wondering, it is not summer rerun season yet. (Don’t rush the time!). We have spent several weeks reading and hearing the Sermon on the Mount, but this is a part that we have not gotten to yet. Apparently the editors and higher-ups who choose our cycle of readings don’t want us to finish it yet either, because they have left a huge swath of the passage out of the line-up. You notice that printed above is Verse 1-6 and then Verse 16-21. I should have typed in the rest. What, you may ask, did they leave out in those ten verses? Just something we call around here “The Lord’s Prayer.” Most of us know it by heart (or think we do, because not all versions agree exactly.) They vary somewhat in style more than content. But the interesting thing about the Lord’s Prayer (among many interesting things about the Lord’s Prayer) is where it is located geographically. The prayer is sandwiched between some things that you are asked by Jesus not to do; some “thou shall not’s.” Our Lord tells us to be very wary of practicing our religion in such a way that glorifies us and does not glorify God. That’s the problem with many religious folks. They want you to see not just how good they are but how in control they are, like they have it all figured out in neat little catch phrases. God, enclosed in a neat little box of understanding. The second piece of bread in our Lord’s Prayer sandwich (verses 16-21) caution us again about the superreligious. Jesus has to tell them three times about this, so we know that it must be a strong temptation to get all mightier-than-Thou in life. But he also picks up a little something else on this prayer sandwich, the pickle on top. Do not (as if a commandment) store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust consume them and where thieves break in and steal. How come the people that want the Ten Commandments posted on every building never want this commandment posted anywhere? I suspect that it may be a little bit too personal, stepping on some toes. We want to keep “In God We Trust” on our money, but nobody wants to write “do not store up treasures on Earth” on our money. (Maybe it’s just too long.) Back to the prayer sandwiched between these cautions and commands: It is as if Jesus knows that it is hard not to think that we are better than someone else. And God knows literally how hard it is to fight the desire to trust in money and not in God. So, the Gospel of Matthew gives an answer, and at the same time another treasure, which is the Prayer. I think what Jesus is saying here is when you feel all good and righteous about yourself, that’s the time you need to talk to God. Well we know that we are supposed to pray when things are going badly, but do we forget to pray when things are going our way? It is easy to forget to talk to God when we are on top of the world. But when the weight of the world falls on us, we have no trouble talking to God. Don’t wait for something bad to happen before you talk to God. This Gospel lesson basically admits that the way to get your priorities in life in the right order is to talk to God. Tonight we begin Lent; a time of self-reflection, increased communication with God, and a calling to sacrifice something in order to make our lives and the lives of those around us just a little better. For instance, we may decide to give up gossiping for the season, or give a little more money to the Social Ministries’ work with the poor. Lent calls us to drop those bad habits and talk to God. There is a show on TV called “The Biggest Loser.” It is a reality show competition to lose weight. It is good because as people lose weight, they drop some unhealthy habits and improve their health. Lent is much like The Biggest Loser because it invites us and beckons us to prioritize the things in our life, and to talk to God. Lent calls us to drop some bad and unhealthy habits and talk to God. To lose the things that hold you down and hold you back, talk to God. Lose them. I am convinced that if St. Paul’s as a congregation and as individuals would stop and talk to God, that we too could grow spiritually and emotionally. That we can lose the bad habits and customs and even the bad feelings and truly be Big Losers. I am convinced (and I have been waiting to use this line all night) that St. Paul’s will have no problem being a bunch of big losers this Lenten season. Amen.