Ash Wednesday Sermon

          Episcopalians, by their very nature, tend to be people of intellect, logic and belief – generally in that order.  The question Anglican minister John Wesley would ask at the beginning of a small group gathering, "How is it with your Soul?"  wasn't for a glib answer, but one that was reasoned and meditated upon.  He didn't start out with "How are you?" as a warm-up.  He wanted to get right to the meat of the discussion and make you think.

          Today is the start of Lent, a 40-day period of time, not including Sundays, that is designed to be an intense time of self-reflection and introspection. It reminds us of the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness following his baptism, described in the gospels as a time of trial and testing. Lent seeks to strip us down, remove those distractions, and helps us focus our attention on what really matters in our lives – the very condition of our souls. Or, to put it in the words of Jesus at the end of our text this evening, where are our hearts? Where are our treasures?

          Treasures are often defined in material ways – those things that keep us comfortable or nostalgic, successful and fulfilled.  They can also be defined in non‑material ways, whether focused on physical appearance, promotions at work, our reputation, or a gift or ability.  Stanley Saunders, author of "Exegetical Perspective," about this passage notes, "Treasure is defined by being a focus of attention, energy, imagination, and resourcefulness. While we often think of the treasures that Jesus warns against as material goods, 'treasures upon the earth' is probably a wider category, encompassing not only physical possessions but such values as success, security, happiness, or even life itself." 

          So, many people use these 40 days as an opportunity to deny themselves of something, whether that be a favorite type of food, too much time on the internet or "stuff" we no longer need.  And these can certainly be valuable methods of determining where we are really placing our time and energy.  But where is your heart?

          Others approach Lenten disciplines by adding a spiritual practice. Someone I know is using these 40 days to intentionally take walks alone and be more aware of the world around her. She intends for these walks to be a way of embodied prayer, making her slow down and spend intentional time on her spiritual life.

          Often, additions like these incorporate the three traditional spiritual practices of Lent – service, prayer, and fasting. These ways of living out faith have deep biblical roots, and have been practiced by Christians throughout the centuries as a way of drawing closer to God. However, sometimes our best intentions for these practices end up misguided.  If we aren't careful, we turn these practices into being all about us – how pious and good we are at being Christian. They become just like treasures to us, distracting our hearts from what matters.

          By freeing ourselves from the binds of these other "treasures" in the world, we believe we might be more open to deepening our relationship with God. Our hearts have to have this intention in order to make it a spiritual practice, rather than just a self-improvement tool. 

          Jesus tells the crowd assembled to hear his sermon on the mount that they should avoid showing off their piety.  And here we are, intending to be marked with the sign of the cross on our foreheads, and walk out into the world.  Isn't that a display of public piety?

          In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses three ways that the Jews of his day practiced their faith: through charitable giving, through prayer, and through fasting. He doesn't suggest that there is anything wrong with these practices. Absolutely not! Each section begins not: "If you … " but: "Whenever you … " Jesus assumes that his hearers will give, and pray, and fast. He corrects not the actions themselves, but his followers' motives for doing them.

          Jesus warns against hypocritical prayer, but he clearly doesn't forbid corporate or formal prayer. A few verses later in this same passage Jesus teaches his community of disciples the Lord's Prayer as a model to memorize and use. Although in today's reading Jesus advises praying behind a closed door, his focus is not on where one prays, but on why and how.

          Genuine prayer is not a theatrical display; it is a conversation with "your Father who is in secret." His language suggests a loving family relationship.  If a wife said, "I love you", and her husband replied, "I love you too," what would happen if the wife tells him – "Prove it.  Scream it to the world", and the husband whispers in her ear, "I love you."  His wife asks, "Why did you whisper it to me?"  And he responds, "Because you are my world."  What are your intentions?

          Lent calls us to a kind of social death. Putting on these ashes represents letting go of the illusion that we are superior to anyone else – we are but dust. Putting on these ashes is about letting go of roles and expectations so that we can open ourselves to the reality of what is, and who we really are.  Think about your intentions, your attitudes, and be brutally honest with yourself.  The Holy Spirit dwells in us, and can help our journey of self-discovery.  When in doubt, trace your thumb along the sign of the cross on your forehead.