Make your Lent count

Year in, year out,  there is Lent

For forty days you prepare

Forty days of fasting

Forty days of praying

Forty days of almsgiving

Then what?

Forty days of fasting

So you fast from food

And your stomach is empty

But your heart is full of abominations

Forty days of praying

So you pray, but the Gentiles' prayers

And your words unacceptable to the Lord

But your demeanor,  a Pharisee at heart

Forty days of almsgiving

So you give but out of compulsion

And not compassion for the poor and needy

But that your giving may be seen by all

Should that be the case?

Make your Lent count!