Ash Wednesday: piety, priorities, and prayer

As Jesus taught His disciples, then and now:

Be careful
not to get showy
with your good deeds
to gain anyone’s admiration.
That brings its own little reward
from others but not from
your Father in Heaven.

Instead
give to those in need
without even letting yourself
know how important you are!
Yet, as you give, your Father will
see and know and reward you.

And when you pray,
don’t be like those hypocrites
who want approval so much
they blow their own horn
wherever they can be seen or heard,
not knowing that’s their only reward.

Instead
when you pray, go away
by yourself and close off
everything else
as you talk to your Father,
Who you cannot see, but Who
sees and rewards you as you pray –
even when you’re hidden away.


© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase poem to begin Lent from today's Gospel reading, Matthew 6:1-6

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