Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

One of the most striking television movies made in the last few years was one called Helter Skelter. It was the story of the cult worship and murder spree by the Charles Manson family in California nearly three decades ago. In the closing moments of the movie, Charles Manson and the members of his so-called family are shown on the screen with their heads shaved and big "X" marks on their foreheads. The stark appearance of the members of that group which called itself a "family" and the "X" marks on their foreheads were a visual, gruesome reminder of their involvement in murder and death. The producers of that movie, I am sure, intended just that image -- the "X" to stand as a symbol of the terrible acts those persons committed.

That "X" stands opposite Jesus' words…