God Centred
In this passage, Jesus focuses on three spiritual practices: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. His teaching is prefaced with a warning to beware. Jesus advises us to reflect on the condition of our hearts as we live out our call to be “the salt of the earth ... a light to the world” (5:13-14). Jesus calls us to be God-centred, not self-centred; to humbly carry out these practices with God’s glory and reputation in mind, not our own.
Jesus also shines a spotlight on the truth that our hearts follow what we treasure. Where we focus our time, money, relationships, possessions, and everyday pleasures shows God what and who we treasure. Jesus has nothing against treasure. If we hold our treasures loosely and use them to deepen our devotion to God, then we will have lasting treasure that no one can take from us.
Are your spiritual practices and treasures a hindrance or a way of deepening your communion with God? The season of Lent is a gift to help us get our hearts back in the right place with the One who is our greatest treasure and the giver of all good gifts.
Gracious God, help us live with open hands, so that the treasures we have in this world, and indeed our very hearts, might also be with the Lord. Amen.
Sumarme Goble