He will exalt us!

By human nature, we all want to be liked. We want to be acknowledged for things we accomplish. This notion is ingrained within us as youngsters. My nephew, Luke, will be two at the end of this week, and I can’t tell you how many times we praise him for something new he learns. Within the past month or so, if we make a big deal out of a new word he has said, he gets shy and buries his face in his mom or dad’s shoulder. I think this tells us something else, demonstrated by an almost-two-year-old. While in and of itself, the desire to please is not evil, it can become a hindrance to what needs to be our ultimate desire--love of God.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us the scribes and the Pharisees perform their works to be seen. They like to be out and about in places that others will notice them and what they do. They want to receive praise and to be spoken to with high titles. Jesus tells us not to follow their example, but to be humble and strip ourselves of our pride. It’s easy for us to forget our place here on earth. We’re so preoccupied with our possessions, our to-do lists and making sure we’re as successful as possible, that we forget to submit to our Master who is Jesus Christ. If we humble ourselves and let our eyes shine on Christ, we will be rewarded!

Matthew’s gospel ties into the first reading from Isaiah. Our Lord tells us that although our “sins are like scarlet, they may become white as snow.” We are to wash ourselves clean in the Blood of Christ Jesus! Pride is a tremendously common sin in this generation. We have so much stuff, and status is such an idol that we show-off what we have or accomplish in order to receive praise from others. During this Lenten Season, let us focus on humbling ourselves and washing ourselves clean. Do our works without expecting anything in return. Like my little nephew, let’s not do things for praise, but show humility. We do good works because it’s what’s right, for the good of another and the glory of God. If we seek this humility God asks, He promises we will be exalted! 

-Amanda Kepshire