Piety

We have been working on reading though the Gospel of Matthew on Tuesday mornings with the church ladies. This week we are working on Matthew 6. The lesson focuses on piety, our deep devotion to God that comes from inside us. In reading and hearing the reflection for tomorrow's lesson I was really moved to write a bit about the three acts of piety also known as the works of mercy: almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.

These three acts are typically part of the Catholic Lenten experience. A key to understanding these penitent acts is found in 1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; bu he who does the will of God abides forever.

The point of the works of mercy are to combat sin- particularly these three common sins which I highlighted in bold. The Christian is called to be on the offensive when it comes to sin and these three pious acts are our weapons.

To combat the lust of the flesh- FASTING. Lusts of the flesh are those things we seek to serve our body, food and sexual pleasure are probably on the forefront of these. Fasting helps us to acquire mastery over our instincts and true freedom of heart. In Matthew 6 beginning in verse 16. Christ warns us that we ought not be actors in our fasting. True fasting is done for the good of the penitent and for God alone not so that others might see.

To combat the lust of the eyes- ALMSGIVING. When all I can think of is what I want (whether it be a better job, a bigger house, this TV, that computer, accessories etc. I struggle with lust of the eyes. And the Lord's cure all for this desire for things is to give. If I've been saving up for that new pick-up and have $3000 saved perhaps I give, $1000 away. The lesson of course is that God provides what we truly need and nothing of this earth can satisfy us. Matthew 6 reminds us that it is treasure in heaven that is of primary importance, not the things of this earth (A great reminder in this economy) and what we ought to seek is the Kingdom of Heaven and the rest will be provided at an as needed basis. Tough, isn't it? We also are reminded that almsgiving is not about the publicity.

To combat the pride of life- PRAYER. The pride of life is "a disordered self trust" St. Thomas Aquinas says. This temptation shows its ugly face in human history from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. The choice Adam and Eve faced is the same one we face daily. Can we trust God? Or would we rather take matters into our own hands? Jesus doesn't admonish public prayer but rather reminds us that real prayer is an interior thing. We ought to pray whenever and wherever! But it isn't about the show but rather that conversion of heart that takes place when we turn to the Lord and present ourselves as we are to Him. We are reminded that who we are when no one is watching is our truest self.

So, let's take a look at our lives! Let's use these tools to combat sin!

Here's to a blessed Lent!