Now that Lent is upon us, Red may wander a bit more over into the spiritual realm.  Red always attends the Ash Wednesday service as it is one of the most moving and meaningful meetings of the year for him.

The Gospel reading from yesterday strikes Red as particularly important in these times – where the Evangelicals wear their religiosity on their sleeves, and preach their piety while supporting politicians who would punish the weak, sick, young and elderly to reward their donor class, who would despoil the earth in the pursuit of next quarter’s profit and who are willing to worship at the fetid trough of Trumpism if it will get them a tax cut and some right wing judges who will let them discriminate in the name of religion.

Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.  Truly, I say to you they have received their reward.  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go  into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees you in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6