We are a fickle people. We make the Bible fit our needs instead of letting the Bible transform us into what is needed for the World. As a result, often when we examine Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21, it is usually only once a year, at the beginning of Lent, and we twist it into an excuse not to engage in spiritual disciplines or not to show our Christian faith in public. This is not what Jesus intended, but it is certainly what makes us the most comfortable.
In this passage, Christ is inviting his disciples to look at the heart of the matter and not to do what has always been done, simply because it has been that way. He is certainly saying not to use our religious practises to show off, but he isn't saying to not pray in public, or what we believe is private, or we aren't to share the message of Jesus wit anyone. This is not what Jesus intended, but it is certainly what makes us the most comfortable.
Instead, it is a call to live an examined faith life. One where we truly look at the heart of what Jesus is saying in scripture, the context, and see what that means in our world today. Which may mean that we don't hide our faith, but also that we don't use it in a hypocritical way. And maybe if that is what Jesus intends, then it certainly makes us uncomfortable.
It is so easy to use the Bible to condemn others instead of examining our own hearts. Our bent towards denial and avoiding our own transformation is strong. Yet, this week we are invited to look into our own hearts and see how our inward and outward lives are related. May we open ourselves up to entering into the uncomfortable, and fully following after Jesus.
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