And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Sometimes there's a great deal of irony in applying a biblical text to contemporary society. In our text Jesus admonishes us not to "disfigure our faces" when we seek to demonstrate our Christian piety. Disfigure our faces? Hardly! We are a nation that spends millions of dollars on anti wrinkle creams, botox, facelifts and sunscreen.

Jesus also admonishes us not to "store up treasures" on earth, but radio and television provide us up-to-the-minute coverage of the gyrations on Wall Street and the stock market. We keep vigil over our retirement accounts to determine how soon we can retire and if we have enough money to last our lifetime.

Beyond well-groomed faces and carefully managed retirement accounts, Jesus is calling us, in this Lenten season, to embrace a value system that is not based on vanity or net financial worth. He calls us to worship the crucified Christ with sincere piety, devotion and commitment. He calls us to embrace the Kingdom of God as being of ultimate value in our life journey. The Kingdom of which Jesus speaks is not based on perfect complexions and big bank accounts, but in loving our Savior beyond all earthly vanity and riches.