Romancing God
Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm
As a Catholic convert, this gospel always gets me. In the gospel, Jesus clearly states that we should not do righteous deeds, give alms, pray, or fast for the recognition of others. Jesus goes so far to say to even intentionally keep it hidden. Then as a Catholic, I rub ashes on my forehead and walk around showing my faith practice to others. The gospel even clearly states to wash your face when you’re fasting. I know there’s other reasons for this tradition. The sacrament uses the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Those words are quite a different message than what is shared in the gospel. Every year, this gives me tension.
Now, today’s gospel in and of itself has tension as well. I think we all can agree that we shouldn’t give alms, pray, fast, or do acts of kindness in a performative way or for the recognition of others, but, from an evangelical perspective, shouldn’t we not hide these things to be an example for others? Jesus, in this gospel, clearly states otherwise.
There is something sacred and intimate in a one-to-one encounter. If we are truly doing something for God, or for our relationship with God, shouldn’t it be between us? Like taking the communion, while we participate in it together, the encounter with the sacrament is 1-to-1. No one can consume the sacrament I consume. No one truly can know or experience my direct encounter with God. God wants an intimate connection with each of us, but an intimate connection is not just one way. It requires each one choosing each other. A way for us to make such a connection to God is through the actions, alms, prayer, and fasting that’s just between us. From dust we have come, and to dust we shall return. In that, there is something that still remains which is more than just dust. The performance and the reputation will go away, but the connection between each of us and God will not.
God wants all of us. We are created in the image of God, and to that image we shall return. In sharing in the divine encounter we grow that bond, why would we want to tarnish it by having it serve another purpose? Does a spouse find you more loving if you seek others outside of your relationship to see you as a good spouse? Or does it tarnish it in some way? Wouldn’t our God want the same from us? Who are you truly doing all of these for?
