Second Wednesday in Lent
In last Wednesday's Gospel from Matthew 6 there were four things that I saw as disciplines for Lent (and all year long.) So I thought I would take each one in order for these four Wednesdays.

• Giving to the Needy

1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Jesus' discussion of spirituality here begins with taking care of others. Well, he's really talking about the attitude in giving. He's assuming that people give- and often for the wrong reasons. He is now making sure that when we help others we do it for the right reason- the other person needs it and God wants it that way.

It is surprising, though, how selfish and self-centered we can be. In a discussion the other day a person said to me, in essence, that all that any of us does is done purely for selfish gain. There is not such thing, I was told as sympathy or empathy. You can't really trust anyone, they will always stab you in the back if you are not careful. I was challenged to how I could be so sure that empathy and sympathy truly do exist.

Well, it is harder to convince someone else of that than you may think. They are starting from a place of non-trust (which is far worse than distrust, I think.) They are telling you a great deal about themselves, of course, but that core belief will shoot down any argument you may have. What's in it for me if I help someone else? Why should I do it just because they need it?

Such may be why Jesus says to do these things in secret - or at least in ways that don't try to bring yourself the glory. It's what's in the heart that counts. It's being aware that God is the one who is watching- you are trying to please Him.

Which I realize is an ulterior motive. Which is why this gets so complicated. But as James said, how can you love a God you have not seen when you don't love a neighbor you can see? In other words, the way we treat others may say a lot about how we think of God.

Can we trust Him? Can we lean on Him? Will he be there for us? In what ways? Am I being selfish? How do we truly trust?

So for this week's discipline let me suggest a simple, double activity. First, do something nice, positive, helpful for another person each day. Not for any reason than to see what happens. Not to get anything back. It may be a smile when someone needs it and you are preoccupied. It may be a phone call or a card or letter or visit. Send a check to the Salvation Army or some other group that truly helps the poor. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Yes, easy does it- but do something.

And second, start each day with a simple prayer to God. It is a prayer of trust. It comes from Father Mychal Judge, casualty #1 from the World Trade Center, a Catholic Priest and FDNY chaplain.

Lord, take me where
you want me to go;
Let me meet who
you want me to meet;
Tell me what
you want me to say, and
Keep me out of your way.