Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Is this a fast, to keep

   The larder leane?

            And cleane

From fat of veales and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish

   Of flesh, yet still

            To fill

The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an houre,

   Or ragg'd to go

            Or show

A downcast look, and sowre?

No: 'tis a fast, to dole

   Thy sheaf of wheat

            And meat

Unto the hungry soule.

It is to fast from strife,

   From old debate,

            And hate;

To circumcise thy life.

To shew a heart grief-rent;

   To starve thy sin,

            Not bin;

And that's to keep thy Lent.

            Robert Herrick (1591-1674), "To Keep a True Lent" 

Surround us with your steadfast love, O God, that we may enter this desert time with willing hearts. Amen

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