Is it okay to tell your lenten promises?

[Klydewannab]

I originally posted this in traditional catholocism, but I think the answers I need might be better found here. What’s your take on these passages regarding the disclosure of lenten promises?

Matthew 6:1 (But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

6:3-4 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.

6:5-6 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.

6:18 …And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Every year I think of these passages when Lent comes up and everyone is talking about what they’re giving up. I can be a little scrupulous, and sometimes worry about any passages which contain promises–negative or positive. I feel the same way about promises attached to devotions. I try to pray them, not for the promise God gives, but for love of God and fellow man.

Anyway, I digress…but just a bit. You see, every year I try to say very little about my lenten promise. But, there always seems to come a point when I tell people what it is I’m doing or not doing. Then I feel bad about it, like I did all that “work” for nothing.

Okay, as I’m writing this, I see how silly and superstitious some of my thoughts are. But I still want to know…should we be talking about our Lenten promises or should we try to do them “in secret” so only the Father knows, or does it matter? What’s right for one person may not be right for another.

Also, what would you say to a Protestant who quoted those scriptures to you? And what do you say to Protestants who ask about ashes on your head?

 

[teachccd]

Since some mainline Protestants also receive ashes, I would have those Protestants who do not speak with those who do.

As far as revealing your lenten promises, it is my opinion that in light of the Scripture that you quoted it would not be in violation to have someone know. Especially if someone might aid in your keeping this promise. We all fast on Ash Wednesday and it is public knowledge but we are not to go around telling everyone how hungry we are in order to grab attention towards ourselves for our sacrifice to God. Same thing with our lenten observance. If you wish to remain private, as I did last year since it was a personal issue, then so be it. But if you remain humble in your disclosure there should be no problem. That’s how I see it…teachccd

 

[BlaineTog]

The passages in question are clearly hyperbolic, which isn’t to say that they’re untrue or exaggerations, but merely that they’re trying to make their point in a dramatic way.

Their point is pretty simple: don’t pray with the intent of convincing others of how pious you are, and when you pray, don’t be self-referential and say to yourself, “Look what a good boy I am!” But at the same time, prayer in public can also help others. For example, I always pray before meals, though always in silence and I try not to make a big deal out of it. A couple days ago, I was eating dinner with some friends, and one of them saw me praying, to which she replied “Huh, maybe I’ll start doing that.”

The point is, pray genuinely and privately, but don’t be afraid if others see you, because maybe it will help to give them a little push towards God. And with respect to Lenten promises, talking about what you’re giving up (especially if there are a lot of Catholics around) is really just something to chat about rather than some sort of sinful comparison.

 

[Klydewannab]

Thanks for the replies. I was also wondering about what a Protestant might think. I’m a teacher in a public school, and when I eat lunch it’s with my “team mates”–those who teach the same grade I do. Out of the five of us, 3 of us are Catholic, 1 is (I think) Lutheran, but her husband is Catholic, and the other is from a non-denominational church. Her husband is a preacher there. She (my non-denom) friend rarely says much, but I have a feeling the above verses go through her head when we start talking about Lent. She rarely asks me questions, and gives brief answers when I ask her about her faith. She’s fine when we are simply talking about our common ground and love for God. I was just wondering if there was a way I could witness to the reason we practice this that is not solely based on Tradition.

 

[rwoehmke]

It is really quite simple with regard to ashes. I do know that most people feel they need to leave them on all day, which it certainly is not wrong to do. However the point is to be reminded that our bodies came from dust and to dust they will return; that this life is fleeting and we best be preparing for the next.

I cannot imagine that any faithful Christian could find any fault with such a reminder when it is explained to them.

As far as praying in public or telling your Lenten promises, I do not think the quoted Bible Verses prohibit such things. The are aimed at those who boast to others about how HOLY they are because they are doing these things. It is the Pride that causes a problem, not the humble acknowlegment that you are serious about Lent.

 

[estesbob]

Just as a matter of personal preference I dont.

 

[teachccd]

Thanks for the replies. I was also wondering about what a Protestant might think. I’m a teacher in a public school, and when I eat lunch it’s with my “team mates”–those who teach the same grade I do. Out of the five of us, 3 of us are Catholic, 1 is (I think) Lutheran, but her husband is Catholic, and the other is from a non-denominational church. Her husband is a preacher there. She (my non-denom) friend rarely says much, but I have a feeling the above verses go through her head when we start talking about Lent. She rarely asks me questions, and gives brief answers when I ask her about her faith. She’s fine when we are simply talking about our common ground and love for God. I was just wondering if there was a way I could witness to the reason we practice this that is not solely based on Tradition.

Lent has been observed for centuries and there are Protestant denominations that do observe Lent. Mostly your mainline denominations will observe Lent. While it seems necessary or even perhaps ecumenical to quote Scripture for everything that we do, it is not necessary. No more than we could find a verse in Scripture that says that the Book of Matthew belongs in the Bible. Christ left behind a Church that was built on Peter and continues to be guided by the Holy Spirit today.

With that having been said, we Catholics need to hold firm to our centuries old faith and not feel that we must conform to their “Sola Scriptura” mentality. If your non-denominational friend is not so inquisitive, then perhaps just the conversations that you have with the other teachers will be all that she needs. With three Catholics and one Lutheran you are not outnumbered and perhaps the other Catholics can add to your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Really everything boils down to the acceptance of Church authority. If one is convinced that the Bible is their sole deposit of faith then it will be quite difficult to convince them that the Church founded by Christ is the pillar and foundation of truth. That is in Scripture, by the way…(1 Timothy 3:15)…teachccd

 

[teachccd]

I originally posted this in traditional catholocism, but I think the answers I need might be better found here. What’s your take on these passages regarding the disclosure of lenten promises?

Matthew 6:1 (But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

6:3-4 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.

6:5-6 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.

6:18 …And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

The Catholic Mass IS the greatest and most complete Christian prayer. And it is a public prayer. If the verses that you quoted above were to be taken literally and not with the intended hyperbole, then we could not attend Mass because others would see us pray. And forget the collection basket. Our almsgiving would have to be done at night sometime in an undisclosed location. (The dark glasses might be necessary)

Your non-Catholic friends go to church and pray with others. They also tithe or give to their church in collections. Scripture must be read in context. The greatest quote comes from Matthew 23:9. Call no man father… We MUST read Scripture in context and understand when Jesus is placing an emphasis on something that His opponents and/or counterparts are ignoring…God Bless…teachccd

 

[Klydewannab]

You’re right teachccd. I hadn’t thought of that. I do think that this women is very–hmmmmm–protective of her religiuos beliefs. I do know that she told one of my co workers one time (she had a hysterectomy and was recovering) not to tell anyone about what she was going through, just keep it between her and God. So I do think that she takes that, or maybe some other verse, hyper literally. She is very willing to pray with me or others, but she won’t really explain or express her beliefs.