More on pride during Lent

Well, Father Orthoduck thought that he and Father Ernesto were done posting on pride and Lent. However, the above comic was too good to pass off. As Father Ernesto commented in his previous post, he knows how easy it is for priests to fall into pride. But, the comic above nicely illustrates the false spirituality that can so easily hide beneath the spiritual practices of Lent. Let Father Orthoduck put it this way. If people other than your immediate family or those you live with know the intimate details of your fasting and prayer life during Lent, you are like that mouse up above. Notice that I said intimate. Most Orthodox will assume that their fellow Orthodox is keeping the full fast. However, if the people around you begin to know what you had for dinner last night, you are like that mouse up above.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. …

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.