Wednesday 25 February 2009

Background

Religion can be practised in public or in private. In public wehear God's call in politics, economics, and community life. Inprivate we meet God in our inner lives - in our motivations, urges,desires and hopes.

Chapters 5, 6and 7 of Matthew's Gospel are arranged as a continuouspiece of teaching, known as 'The Sermon on the Mount'. Within it wefind Jesus addressing both the public and private faces ofreligious practice.

Before (Matthew5:16), Jesus has told his disciples that they must do theirgood works in public, so that others will praise God. Now he speaksof what must be done in private. The point is that everythingdisciples do should be focused on God. What is done in public isdone to inspire praise of God. What is done in private is done forGod alone.

Three actions are seen in this way: giving (verses 2-6), praying(verses5-15 - although this is not included in today's passage)and fasting (verses 16-18). But what is it that gives these actionstheir value and direction? For many it is public recognition. Theyact out their religious commitment in the full light of publicity.When giving they blow their own trumpet, like corporate givers whoensure a photo opportunity as a poster-sized cheque is handed totheir chosen charity. "They have had their reward," saysJesus.

It would be unusual in our culture for someone to try to impressother people by making a show of their personal prayers. Ifanything, personal prayer can often be seen as laughable(remember TonyBlair being asked by Jeremy Paxman if he prayed with GeorgeBush?) But an old fashioned desire for respectability hascertainly maintained some people in their religious practice. "Theyhave had their reward," says Jesus.

Fasting is very counter-cultural. Consumerism drives us to buy morewhereas fasting is about making do with less. But even such acounter-cultural action could be done to build an identity, tostand out from the crowd, to make a public statement. "They havehad their reward," says Jesus.

Instead, each of these actions is to be done just because of ourdesire to honour God. Their dynamic and their power come from whathappens inside us, not from how they appear to other people.

To Ponder

If you do something good, how much does it matterif the person you do it for never gets to know your name?

How do you feel about people who show-off theirreligious faith?