ASH WEDNESDAY

I'm trying to write a poem each day during lent to go with the scripture of the day. Here we go.

Luke 18:9-14
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

As we start the season of Lent,
a time we are called to repent,
it’s good to see the way we’ve been
so we can start over again.

Sometimes we proclaim we are good
when we only do what we should.
We want to hire a big brass band
to spread our name throughout the land.

Superiority we proclaim
and look for someone we can blame
for the evil world in which we live,
evils we can replace when we give.

Today, O Lord, help me imitate
the humble tax collector’s state
of admitting his imperfection
by going in a new direction.