Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Ash Wednesday - Years ABC

Moving from Sunday's message of coming down the mountain to continue the ministry to which one is called - experiences by Moses, Elijah, Jesus, etc. - to next Sunday's look at temptations awary from that very ministry takes us through mini-ministries and mini-temptations.

A ministry of alms is an honorable ministry. Temptations abound to have that ministry turn from service to self-aggrandizement.

A ministry of prayer is an honorable ministry. Temptations abound to have that ministry turn from healing to curing.

A ministry of fasting is an honorable ministry. Temptations abound to have that ministry turn from a means to an end.

There is nothing good that can't be subverted for some seemingly good purpose. Constant vigilance is the price of spiritual maturity.

- - -

Pastor Henry comments:

We were reminded on the mountain that Moses and Elijah were still alive. They met and conferred with Jesus. If they are, then we shall be, if so what matter of lives ought we to live when we enter the valley or the wilderness, knowig that we too shall live with Him who is our Savior. Can we learn from the valleys that there are some things that can only happen as a result of prayer and fasting? Can we learn that the way to win in the wilderness is to depend on the Spoken Word, The Living Word, and having that Word hid in our hearts. Opportunities will come. Temptations will come. Do we believe that the Christ we saw on the mountain will enable us to live in the valley or in the wilderness?

- - -

Wesley White responds:

Thanks, Henry. It is important to link our mountain top experiences with our valleys and wildernesses. One construct is certainly that of belief. Another way of coming at that is whether we experience the Christ of the mountain walking with us as we live in the valley or wilderness. Some are attuned to the ideals of belief descending to transform the situation they are in and others seem to better resonate to the practicalities of living from the bottom up. Whichever way folks are wired or gifted it is good to be able to faithfully respond to the the opportunities available.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/february2005.html

Practicing piety to be seen practicing piety is a thick spot, not a thin place. It separates paradise and earth by more than the standard three feet. When it goes on long enough, such a callus is built up that we become callous to G*D (the irony, oh, the irony), to neighbor and self (really high quality blowbacks).

Yes, a bit more cryptic than usual, but I enjoyed it.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/march2006.html

Integrity in the small matters is important for an overall sense of well-being. Warnings about secrecy are not so much a matter of hyper-humility, but acting with integrity. What needs doing is done, straight-forwardly. When action is simply a matter of course and not being played for ulterior gain (whether consciously or not) there is a reward of wholeness of being. And, what better reward is there? It is priceless.

This sense of the language of secrecy comes to the fore when the question of hypocrisy is raised. We are not looking for unknownness, but wholeness. A show is not in order, whether that show is unseen or posed. Knowing where your heart is is a great reward.

= = = = = = =

you been practicing your sexual orientation again?
nope, when you're this good practice isn't the issue
you still practicing breaking a bad habit?
yep, don't know that I'll ever not be a xxxx-ist

there are things that come quite naturally
in a healthy way
there are things that come quite naturally
that destroy

we are told our nature is unnatural
forced into hypocrisy by family
we find our nature to be righteously right
our left left no choice but secrecy

finally we face the difficulty
practicing the practice of wholeness
in all we do and refrain from doing
without simply practicing practicing

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

Manifest your prayer through your life. Turn your life into a prayer.

From whichever direction you approach this passage, it won’t be long before you are travelling down the other path.

Do not store up for yourself treasures on your forehead. Particularly do not try to be more subtle by having them show on the back of your hand. Rather be the treasure you are, it will be recognized in time.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/02/matthew-61-21.html

Intentions often overwhelm Intuitions. We hedge ourselves round with rules for survival, success, and plain old acceptance by our current culture and tribe. It is so easy to forget that the current common sense is but prelude to a larger common good yet to arrive.

This is a day to recognize that our past had a consequence and it is today. Fortunately this means that tomorrow is a consequence of what we do today. Choice is still available and tomorrow is still able to be better.

When you attend to this day, do so without setting up a battle between your intention to be tribally and culturally ascendant and your insightful intuition that better is tied to our deep heart’s core.

Remember your place of peace and let your hands move in multiple realms while connected to a larger satisfaction not yet arrived but drawn closer with the practiced skill of mercy, mercy, mercy.

- - - - - - -

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

- - - - - - -

Yesterday is burned and gone. Where there is naught but ash, our third eye sees through it to discern a way forward beyond repetition. Open this eye to see where hope and wholeness wend their way through the underbrush—and follow.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/03/matthew-41-11.html