‘The season of Lent is upon us… a time of abstinence, fasting and penance.’ And alms giving… Or is it?
…‘When you fast, don’t be as the hypocrites’. And ‘When you do your alms, don’t sound a trumpet as the hypocrites do… that they may have the glory of men…’ and…
‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees/Priests which is hypocrisy.’
Jesus (Matt 6:1-2, 16; Luke 12:1)
While the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ continues to be mindlessly recited in congregations who gather in their ‘houses of worship,” not many know the origin or the meaning of the prayer. Jesus’ preliminary instruction on how to pray to our Father in Heaven is this:
“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray… that they may be seen of men… And don’t use vain repetition as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Don’t you be like them, for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Therefore you should pray in this manner: …