Ash Wednesday Homily

What strikes me from the Gospel passage today
is about this notion of privacy.
Perhaps this is simply because I am a millennial.
For long as I have been alive,
computers have been connecting together in networks.
I grew up with social media.
The online world where everything and anything is shared
and all too often, unfortunately,
people have a tendency to joke that if it isn't on social media
then it really hasn't happened.
The notion of privacy is a shadow of what it once was.
Everything has to be known, or at least accessible,
in case someone wants to know it.
So the idea that I could go to church
or spend money or not eat
without anyone knowing
is almost a novelty.

However, privacy is an important aspect of true relationship.
All relationships have those aspects which are shown to the public
and then those aspects which are kept between each other.
Couples always have private aspects to their relationship
and what set of best friends do you know that don't have an inside joke or two?
In the comedy TV show, "How I met your Mother,"
Ted and Robyn have an inside joke between them
that whenever anyone says the words major or general in conversation,
like a friend says, I have a major problem,
they salute and say, "Major Problem."
Sadly though, many people these days are getting confused
about what should be private and what should be public.
Every relationship needs some privacy,
needs some confidentiality, some trust,
even our relationships with God.

Yes, even our relationships with God require some privacy.
Not everything we do, like prayer, giving, doing community service
needs to be known to the whole community.
Regrettably, like the Pharisees in the example Jesus gives,
some people like the praise they get fr doing all these things in the public eye.
Once someone starts doing good deeds only for the praise from others,
they they stop doing them out of love.
The good deeds lack heart and soul and dry up.
Thankfully, it doesn't take too much,
a little alone time with God,
doing good, praying, studying,
and the heart and soul of love starts flaming again.

When Jesus starts talking at the end of the passage about treasures in heaven,
about treasures that cannot be stolen, rusted, or broken,
I don't think he is just talking about the big ideals of charity or integrity or love.
I think he is also talking about those moments of initmacy
between friends, family members, and God,
those private moments which make us feel loved, supported,
which draw us closer together and bind us to one another.
What treasures are between you and God?
What is private between you and God?
This Lenten season, build up treasures,
build up relationships,
between you and your loved ones,
between you and God.
Amen.