People often look at religion as icing on the cake. After they have everything else arranged in their lives, they think they’d better tend to spiritual matters.
Jesus had a way of challenging folks to examine what’s under the icing. What is the cake made of?
Ash Wednesday began the Christian season of Lent, a 40-day period leading to Easter. It has traditionally been seen as a time of preparation for the full and proper celebration of that day.
It is a much more important preparation than what happens before Christmas, though: Instead of decorating and shopping, we are invited to prepare ourselves.
The 40 days of Lent are patterned after Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert.
And the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew is another scripture passage which takes on a central role in Lenten reflections.
In that passage Jesus says not to pray or fast or give alms — or charity — so that others can see you and give you credit for your holiness. If that’s the case, you have already been repaid.
Better to do these things in private and be repaid by God! (On a personal note, I once wrote the president of the University of Notre Dame, reminding him that the school once named buildings after departed priests and professors instead of live billionaires.)
A more basic point of the chapter is, I believe, that Jesus says: When you give alms or pray or fast, not if.
He assumes that these practices will be integrated into the regular life of his followers, not just occasional practices or “extra credit.” Why? Because we need to make room for the Lord constantly if we are to be transformed by the Lord.
We desperately need prayer time with God. We need self-discipline so that we are not ruled by our appetites. We need to be generous for the sake of those in need, but also to open up our fists and stop grasping onto things which will not endure.
Lent is not a time to try and make up for our laxness the rest of the year. It is a time to regroup and reset our gaze on Christ. It’ s a good time to ask ourselves what the cake is really made of and follow the lead of the one who knows the way.