“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are God. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are God.” Christopher Hitchens

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 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. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6

Humility is hard for many people – cats seem to have none. Not that I try to give human emotions to my cats, but it is hard not to anthropomorphize my cats. Cat owners like to think that their cats can read their thoughts – that they come to us when we are feeling blue just to lift our moods. Most likely my cats come to see me for only one thing – food. I like to think my cats come to me for company and presence – most likely they come to me for food. Often my concern, when I see three of four cats gathering around me, watching my every move, my concern is that they are plotting to kill me – and then eat me.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which takes up three chapters in Matthew’s Gospel (5,6 & 7) includes things like the Beatitudes, and metaphors on Salt and Light, the Mote and the Beam, and the Wise and the Foolish Builders. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ sermon on living the ethical and G-dly life. It is a path, a road map for those seeking the Kingdom of G-d.

We must be careful not to misread the Sermon on the Mount by interpreting the whole thing as a sustained warning to those who would presume they can achieve the kingdom of heaven by their own effort. Not so. Our passage repeatedly assures that G-d sees and blesses our genuine service and worship. Jesus promises that people enjoy access to G-d through the most simple and understated expressions of devotion. Jesus’ point is not that only private or unobservable religious activities count for anything, but that believers should go about their devotion, in whatever forms, as if no one else is watching. The ways of some religious folk have a tendency to bring out their self-centeredness – self-centeredness like my cats.

We should not read more into our “actions” than we should – religious piety is nice – G-d just wants sincere devotion – not showy demonstrations.

Pastor Dave