Wednesday 18 February 2026
"Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven." (v. 1)
Background
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and a day when one of the more visible Christian traditions takes place. Many churches hold the Imposition of Ashes. Using ash made from burning last year’s palm crosses, people come forward to receive a small cross on their foreheads. This act reminds us of the cycle of birth, life, death and resurrection, and invites us to deepen our journey with God through repentance during Lent. The image of 'sackcloth and ashes' has long been linked with turning back to God.
It may have been nearly a thousand years after Christ before the practice of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday became common, and it arrived even later in many Protestant traditions. Yet it has become a meaningful way to mark the beginning of Lent, often making our faith more visible to others as we travel home, go to work, or appear on a video call!
But today’s gospel reading gives us something to think about. Jesus warns against showing off our faith. He tells his followers not to give to charity in a way that draws attention, not to pray loudly in public to be admired, and not to look sad while fasting so that others will notice. Instead, he encourages us to give quietly, pray privately and fast without drawing attention.
So, does that mean we should wipe the ashes off as we leave church? Jesus is not warning against piety itself, but against the temptation to perform our faith for the sake of being seen. In this passage he often repeats the phrase, as part of his warning, “in order to be seen by them”, a reminder that our reason for giving, praying or fasting matters more than whether others notice.
Faith is not about looking holy. It is about being holy, whether anyone is watching or not. God sees us, knows us, and delights in the beauty of a sincere heart.
To Ponder:
- What motivates our practices of faith and how can we recognise moments when our motives become more about appearance than sincerity?
- What are the differences between a quiet faith and a hidden faith?
Prayer
God of humility and truth, as we begin this season of Lent, help us to look honestly at our hearts. Teach us to give, to pray and to fast not to be seen by others, but to draw nearer to you. May the outward signs of this season lead to inward change, and may our quiet faith shine through acts of love and grace. Walk with us in these 40 days of Lent and shape us into people who seek your presence above all else. Amen.
[You can find out more about Lent at The Methodist Church's Lent and Easter resources.]
Bible notes author: The Revd David Hardman
David Hardman is currently serving as the Methodist Liaison Officer, Jerusalem for the Methodist Church in Britain. Ordained in 1994, he has served churches and circuits in the city centre and in the inner city and suburbs of Manchester and London. He has also worked for Christian Aid as Senior Regional Coordinator in the North West of England and most recently was the Methodist Team Leader of the Joint Public Issues Team. Justice and peace have been at the heart of David’s ministry; he is an accredited mediator with Place for Hope and a committed activist.