"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

- Matthew 6:2

This verse came to mind today as I read about all the members of Congress who are planning to donate their salaries while the Government is shutdown to local charities.

Which lawmakers will refuse their pay during the shutdown?

For people who struggle from paycheck to paycheck, this seems like the ultimate hypocrisy and slap in the face. It must be nice to be able to voluntarily go without pay for a few weeks, or however long the shutdown lasts. It must be nice to have that much discretionary funds or savings.

No, if members of Congress want to really gain understanding of the people they are supposed to be representing, they should take the SNAP Challenge

The SNAP Challenge encourages participants to get a sense of what life is like for millions of low-income Americans facing hunger. By accepting the SNAP Challenge, you’ll commit to eating all of your meals from a limited food budget comparable to that of a SNAP participant - $1.50 per meal.

A few verses later, in Matthew, we find

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

So, while the members of Congress try to get by on $1.50 a meal, they should spend time praying for the poor, and for compassion and humility. For these quotes come nicely between the Beatitudes and the Lord Prayer.