The Kingdom Movement

A Literary & Pastoral Study Guide to the Gospel of Matthew

The Inspiration of Matthew,

by Caravaggio

On the King's Errand

Devotional Reflections on Matthew's Gospel

From Public Show to Deep Authenticity, Part Two:  Mt.6:1 – 18

…⁴ your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you…⁶ your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you…¹⁷ your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 

         One of my favorite movies is Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.  Audrey Hepburn plays a royal princess who wants to escape from the confines of palace life.  So, one evening, while touring in Rome, she dresses in common clothes and goes out into the city.  She becomes a bit too intoxicated and an American reporter, played by Gregory Peck, tries to take her back to her home.  But, she winds up just falling asleep.  Being a gentleman, the reporter takes her back to his place, lays her in his bed, and goes to sleep on the couch.  In the morning, he makes the connection that she is part of a royal family.  But since she is hiding who she is, he hides that he’s a reporter, and that he knows who she is.  They take a Roman holiday, a tour through the city.  He gets to know her; finds out what she likes; what her thoughts are on Rome, politics, art, and other things; makes notes on their conversation and gets some pictures.  While they are walking around, they develop romantic feelings for each other, but of course they can’t tell each other who they really are.  So that night, they sadly say goodbye.  The next morning, the princess holds a press conference explaining that she was sick the day before and is all better now.  The reporter is there.  She sees him, and all of a sudden she knows the whole truth.  The princess knows that he could expose her completely.  And certainly, his boss wants him to run the story and post the pictures because this was an exclusive, personal, day-long interview with the princess.  It would have been a great career move.  But he loves her.  So when they shake hands, this time not as woman and man but as princess and reporter, he quietly hands her the rolls of film.  This will be the experience that only they will share.  He promises to keep their secret…a secret. 

         Our heavenly Father loves to share secret moments that are only between you and Him.  Like the time when He leads you to pray for someone, and then He answers that prayer – no one knows that you poured your love into words for that other person, but the Father alone.  Like the time you cleaned the sidewalk on your neighbor’s property when no one was looking – no one knows you did that, but the Father alone.  Like the time you cared for someone that was challenging for you to care about – no one knows how difficult that was for you, but the Father alone.  He shares those moments with you in secret.  Even when you feel totally unappreciated and unseen, the Father knows you.  He sees you.  He shares in that moment with you.

         Not only does He know these secrets about you.  You know these secrets about Him.

         Your heavenly Father is building with you a personal, spiritual photo album of sacred joy.  Revisit those times.  Do you sense your heavenly Father smiling, gently elbowing you, and saying, ‘Remember when we did that together?  That’s our secret.’

         What secret thing do you sense the Father is leading you in this week?