At the summit of the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches on the three central spiritual practices. Giving, Prayer and Fasting.

Prayer is the only one where he gives a practical example. The Lord’s Prayer. It stands out as something we should just do. Despite his focus in this section on being discreet, this prayer is given in a public, shared, communal form. ‘Our Father…’ It is the most – or one of the most – recited set of words on earth.

But for all three – giving, prayer and fasting – there is a focus throughout on doing it in secret or discreetly. It is secret practice where the reward is.

I wonder if the ‘reward’ is formation, transformation.

If this is the case, could the opposite also be true? Is it the case that if my praying, fasting and giving is mostly public, I will be transformed the least from those practices?

Could it be the case that only private practices truly transform us?