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Lent · Year B

Ash Wednesday

February 10, 2027

The Seven Works of Mercy, Caravaggio
The Seven Works of Mercy, Caravaggio, 1607Pio Monte della Misericordia, Naples
All seven works happen at once in a Neapolitan alley: a man is buried, a prisoner is fed at the breast by his own daughter, a corpse's feet stick out at the left. The painting has never left the building it was made for.Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.CaravaggioThe painter who put street models and raking light into altarpieces, killed a man in a brawl, and changed European painting in under twenty years.Pio Monte della Misericordia, NaplesA charitable confraternity founded in 1602 and still operating, which commissioned the Caravaggio above its altar and has never let it leave.Pio Monte della Misericordia, Naples
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:1-6, 16-21Mt 6:1-6, 16-21
Epistle2 Cor. 5:20b-6:102 Cor 5:20b-6:10
Old TestamentJoel 2:12-19Jl 2:12-19
PsalterPs. 51:1-13 (14-19)Ps 51:1-13 (14-19)

Overview & Insights

“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)

Jesus expects his disciples to practice a covenantal piety that centers on a longing for God’s kingdom to arrive and strives to please God, not humans.

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Take it further: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21Commentary on Mt 6:1-6, 16-21 Working Preacher

This is the exact Ash Wednesday gospel in the RCL, so the Luther Seminary commentary speaks straight to piety practiced in secret.

An Ash Wednesday Meditation SALT Project

SALT's ecumenical meditation frames almsgiving, prayer, and fasting as treasure stored in heaven rather than performed for show.

Ash Wednesday Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic background and reflection questions for beginning Lent with the treasures-of-the-heart gospel.

Ash / Dust, Ash Wednesday Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal preaching resource on mortality and repentance keyed to the Ash Wednesday texts.

Matthew 6 Commentary: Doing Good to Please GodMt 6 Commentary: Doing Good to Please God Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik works verse by verse through giving, prayer, and fasting done for God rather than for reputation.

Matthew 6:1-4 CommentaryMt 6:1-4 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse study hub gathering word notes, quotes, and cross references on secret almsgiving.

Matthew 6:1 CommentariesMt 6:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators (Ellicott, Barnes, Meyer, Pulpit) stacked verse by verse for comparison.

Background & Word Study

Will This Be on the Test? Left Behind and Loving It

D. Mark Davis parses the Greek of the Sermon on the Mount's piety sayings clause by clause.

What is the connection between prayer and fasting? Psephizo · Ian Paul

Ian Paul's Anglican study of how fasting and prayer belong together in Jesus' teaching.

Matthew and WorkMt and Work Theology of Work

Background on Matthew's ethics of hidden generosity and where treasure is truly stored.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 6 - Catena Bible & CommentariesMt 6 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse from Augustine, Chrysostom, and other early voices.

Sermons & Reflections

Wednesday's Ashes Journey with Jesus

A literary lectionary essay on ashes, mortality, and the turn of the heart at the start of Lent.

Worship & Prayers

Ash Wednesday, Year B: Lectionary Planning Notes UMC Discipleship

United Methodist worship planning helps, prayers, and hymn suggestions for the whole liturgy.

Podcast

#948: Ash Wednesday – Feb. 14, 2024 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's image library gathers paintings and artwork for the Ash Wednesday readings.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Ash Wednesday Textweek

A one-stop index linking commentaries, art, and sermons across the Ash Wednesday texts.

Questions preachers ask

Why is Matthew 6 the Ash Wednesday Gospel?

Jesus teaches that giving, prayer, and fasting be done in secret before the Father, and that treasure be laid up in heaven, setting the tone for Lent.

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