“All facades fall sometime, then the mask comes off and the real heart is seen.”

“Who knows himself a braggart, let him fear this, for it will come to pass that every braggart shall be found an ass.” ― William Shakespeare: (1564 (baptized)  - 1616: was an English poet, playwright, and actor)

Gospel Text: (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds

in order that people may see them;

otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,

do not blow a trumpet before you,

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets

to win the praise of others.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you give alms,

do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,

do not be like the hypocrites,

who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners

so that others may see them.

Amen, I say to you,

they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room,

close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,

do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance,

so that they may appear to others to be fasting.

Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast,

anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you may not appear to be fasting,

except to your Father who is hidden.

And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Don't you just hate braggers? 

Lent is a time to bring some reality and some humility into our lives, and not to brag about it. If you're trying to put some extra effort into this business of living the life of faith - that's great. But don't advertise your self-denial, your self-examination, your striving after what you know you've missed, you're attempt to recover what seems to have been lost. So, says Jesus, if you're going to fast, wash your face, slap on the oil so you look as if you're blooming, and smiling -  don't let on what a struggle such a discipline is. Don't even mention it. That way what you're doing won't be seen by anyone, 'only your Father who is in secret; and your Father who is in secret will reward you.' And if that's true about fasting, it's also true about every religious practice - giving and praying - but also silence and study and reflection and meditation and compassion and practical encouragement - and whatever else you might do to develop and test your faithfulness.

Self-denial isn't self-denial when it's object is to be talked about. Being talked about doesn't contribute one little thing to what you as a person really are. You may enjoy being talked about but what does it do for your personal growth? What does it do to your nearness to God? What does it do to your strengthening as a person? The word hypocrite was originally a Greek term for 'an actor' - one who puts on a show but behind it all is quite different.

To grow in deep ways it has to be growth that's more than show.