Lent Day One - Ashes - Our Journey Begins

Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 ©

Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

The Pew Dwellers Diary - Lenten Journey - Day One

It was very cold in the desert last night.  I clung tightly to my blankets inside the comfortable tent and listened to the howling wind and my mind was racing and I found it hard to fall asleep.  My brain was reviewing the beautiful Mardi Gras party we had last night.  There was food, dancing, music, and much laughter.  Then the midnight hour struck and all of the party materials were put away and within minutes we were all under our blankets and I could hear some of my companions snoring.  I finally fell asleep and I dreamed a dream of youth even though my youthful years were left behind many Lents ago.  But it pleasant in my dream to have a body not affected by the wearing down that age brings, a body without aches and pains.  For that time it was pleasant.  But all too soon the Master called and wearily and slowly we arose and we packed our blankets and cushions and helped load up the camels. It was still dark and the coldness of night was still in the air and the stars were fighting a losing battle with the sun as it began to rise in the east.  We were soon all packed up and we brought the camels into line and we started off, the pleasures of last night were now just a memory.  The Master wanted to have an early start because he knew that we were not at all ready for this journey so he wanted to make some miles before the sun rose high in the sky and began to make progress difficult.  He placed His mark upon us, a cross made from the remnants of some palms that had burned in the fire last night.  As we walked through the sands, the Master pointed out the life that was abundant in this hot land.  He pointed and steered us away from a large snake who buried himself in the sand to await a meal that would surely cross his path.  He told us a story about a snake and a garden and the male and female people that lived there.  He told us that they had engaged in desiring what they were told that they could not have and that the snake, Satan, had tempted them into sinning against God.  The Master said the this is the reason we're are journeying to Jerusalem, to once and for all to deal with sin and its companion death.  We dared not ask what He meant.  The day wore on and the hours melted together under the oppressive sun.  This desert froze you at night and boiled you during the day.  But the silence made for a place where you could think and since each of us had to tend a camel we could not speak to one another.  So we walked, we meditated, we examined, and we repented and we rejoiced.  This was what our journey was supposed to be.  This was the time for the soul to rule the body and to strengthen our ties to the Master.  The day came to an end and with a light supper, exhausted, we retired and the cold of the evening found us sleeping as the stars blinked and the moon rose to take command of the desert night.