‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
I have spent a good deal of my adult life theater-adjacent and most of my youth working backstage. Some present-day expressions of church seem more like performance than worship. I have always tried, as priest and bishop, to lead by example, humble and aware of my many faults. When we turn worship into a show, we lose the presence of the living God. No matter how beautiful our songs are, or how wonderful our liturgy, we must remember always that we are trying to bring the love of God to the people, and not the love of ourselves. Jesus saw what that kind of showmanship did to undermine the lives of the faithful. May we all seek to live justice and walk humbly with our God.
Blessed Creator, source of all goodness
you us in your image so we might serve
all of your creation with joy and love.
We love to be in the glowing spotlight
showcasing our talents and our wealth
forgetting you call us to put others first.
Make us humble and full of your radiance
make us joyfully sing your songs simply
so your love may shine through us today. Amen.
