The peacock is considered to be one of the most beautiful birds.

 

The peacock’s tail contains spectacular beauty because of the large feathers – bright, gleaming colours and intricate patterns.

 

However, the peacock also has an ugly side to it…

 

When the peacock opens its showy tail, it exhibits the ugliness of its body beneath.

 

Behind the showy and attractive display, lies a repulsive sight!

 

This is a simple imagery of unattractiveness that is displayed when human beings also seek to flaunt their pride and vain glory.

· Any display of pride always results in exposing one’s unattractive face of life.

· Any show of conceit always ends up in revealing one’s cheap side of life.

 

Humility and honesty are two prime virtues that need to embellish the life of every Christian.

 

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching by Jesus on the prime importance of doing away with pride and instead, beautifying one’s life with sincere humility and truthful honesty.

 

Jesus, through the Sermon on the Mount continues to target the key areas of one’s Christian living.

 

Today He speaks on the three core practices that were essential pious practices of His time: almsgiving, prayer and fasting.

 

Jesus condemns these devout exercises becoming instruments to show-case one’s pride and exhibit pomp and self-glory.

 

· With respect to almsgiving, Jesus says…

… “sound no trumpet”

 

· With respect to prayer, Jesus says…

… “shut the door and pray to your Father”

 

· With respect to fasting, Jesus says…

…”anoint your head and wash your face”

 

 

One of the fundamental aspects in the Spirituality of Jesus is His emphasis on the intention of the heart.

· Sin is when the heart rejects the working of the Spirit.

· Holiness is when the heart accepts the grace of the Spirit.

 

· When the heart consents to evil, sin occurs

· When the heart consents to grace, goodness is affirmed.

 

>> An act of almsgiving happens, when the heart willingly gives – in generosity and with wholeheartedness

>> An act of prayer happens, when the heart seeks communion with the Lord – in openness and with faithfulness

>> An act of fasting happens, when the heart self-sacrifices and renounces – in sincerity and with willingness

 

When the intention of the heart is genuine and sincere, then one remains least bothered of external attractions and publicity…

… there is no desire to seek for attention and appreciation for one’s devout actions

… there is no inclination to want acknowledgement and recognition for one’s pious deeds

 

And this is the ideal to which Jesus invites us:

>> A religion that spreads not simply on the basis of external shows.. but on the basis of genuine spirituality

>> A faith that grows not merely on the strength of pompous deeds… but on the foundation of true dependence and trust in the Lord

 

Is my practice of religion resembling a peacock’s display of feathers – wanting to flaunt one’s pride and vain glory – but in the process…

… exposing one’s unattractive face of life?

… revealing one’s cheap side of life?

 

 

Let us give heed to the wisdom from the book “Imitation of Christ” and seek to grow in humility and dependence on the Lord:

 

“Do not think yourself better than others lest, perhaps, you be accounted worse before God who knows what is in man.

>> Do not take pride in your good deeds, for God’s judgments differ from those of men and what pleases them often displeases Him”

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!