Jesus said to his disciples:“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them…”
Today was Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent. For those who do not know me or are not familiar with my life, story or writings it is a time that I best describe as one where I am conflicted. Lent is my least favorite season of the liturgical year.
But before you start picking up stones, arrows or even bullets to schwack me, let me tell you why…
You see I have no issue with what Jesus said, which is at the heart of the Ash Wednesday Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter six. In fact I totally agree with what Jesus said in the passage because I know that I am a total screw up and as far as the Christian life goes I am a “Mendoza Line” performer.*
I am always amazed when I read the words of Jesus and compare them with the way many American Christians do the Christian life:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them…”
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them…”
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting…”
What has become apparent to me is that many Christians are quite proud at being the new chosen people and many actually look down on unbelievers or for that matter even other Christians who do not fit with interpretation of either doctrinal correctness or personal holiness.
I can no longer do that and to think that for quite a few years I did is something that bothers me.
You see I am not bothered by people who really know their faith, nor am I bothered by those who those who live a beautiful life of personal holiness and piety. Such would be petty especially because people who are able to do this are probably doing better than me. What bothers me is when people hold their holiness over the heads of other people as if they were better than others.
Such attitudes are not the Gospel, but they are all too common and sadly the world can see right through Christian hypocrisy. That might be what people inside the church, especially young people are fleeing it, and why more and more people are rejecting what they see in the visible church, while still wanting to seek God and a spiritual life.
I have to admit that if I was not already a Christian in the face of so many intolerant, vile, hypocritical people who claim to represent Jesus that I would reject the Christian faith out of hand. There is nothing that I want from people that feel that they are superior to others when all that we have as Christians is from the “free gift of God.”
I really don’t need to be reminded that I am a screw up. At the same time there is something liberating in the message of Lent. It runs counter to the message of our culture. As I mentioned last night I will be giving up some things, but not because I am any better than anyone else, but to remind me of my humanity and my need for God.
I doubt that I will ever really look forward to or enjoy Lent, but I don’t have to look forward to it or enjoy the season in order to have some spiritual growth and benefit from it. I hope to have some spiritual growth during this season of Lent. For the first time since I returned from Iraq I am going to try to do a few of the more external observances, but will not get stuck in them. Instead I will seek to learn and grow spiritually during this time.
Pope Francis mentioned something last year that I think is relevant to us during the Lenten season, especially of we in our efforts to seek God find a way to exclude him through our own self righteousness:
“Spiritual worldliness, which hides behind the appearance of piety and even love for the Church, consists in seeking not the Lord’s glory but human glory and personal well-being.”
To be honest that expresses the frustration I experience during Lent and I pray that somehow in my life and witness of Jesus the Christ that I will not through my own self-righteousness drive people away from him.
Peace
Padre Steve+
*Note: Mario Mendoza with a shortstop who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an excellent defensive player but his hitting left much to be desired. In the course of his career he hit for an average of .215. To this day a ball player who hits at the .200 level is known as a Mendoza line hitter, it is the level that a player can hit at and still stay in the major leagues.
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 
Padre,
If I were to observe lent, how do it do it? Do I have to tell everyone that I am giving something up and when is it over?
I would be willing to do it if the goal was like you state “to remind me of my humanity and my need for God.”
A few weeks ago in my Bible study we were talking about rating ourselves and our Christian walk on a scale to ten. I was the last one and I told everyone I was a ten out of ten because of the Grace of God. I honestly believe that I am perfect because of his continuing Grace. Likewise, I know that you are nowhere near the Mendoza line. You are perfect, don’t change a thing.
Rob, the best way to keep Lent is to keep whatever you do pretty much to yourself. A lot of people observe it by giving up something that they like or by adding something to their spiritual disciplines. In a more traditional sense some people give up meats other than fish on Fridays during Lent, some add Wednesday to that. Ash Wednesday is a fasting day except for a light meal, and Good Friday is usually kept as a similar type fast with the avoidance of meats other than fish. Some people can become very legalistic about it, however as you can see from me I think it is best to keep most of what you are doing to yourself, as was talked about in Matthew chapter 6. Since I am not very good at doing lent this is helpful to me. Except for the hamburger thing I am not advertising what I am doing. Blessings, Steve+
Thank you for the explanation. Like you I am anti-legalistic but the other side of the coin is that I don’t ever want to offend, unless I want to offend someone. But for the most part, I try to keep my spirituality private and just do what I can.
I really enjoy your openness in everything you write. It is very refreshing to find someone who is what they say they are. You might have doubts about yourself, but I have no hesitations about you at all.