In Secret

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
—Matthew 6:1-6

If we have worked in darkness
and labored through the night,
how shall we taste the harvest
in your unending light?

We fear the dark's obscurance
of all our works and ways.
O God, give us endurance
and hope to see the day!

Look down on all that's hidden
and read the words we hide:
May all our acts live in you,
where even night is bright.

And in our darkest places,
our inmost, secret parts
help us to sing your praises
as you look on our hearts.

Then may we give in secret:
Our good work need not show
for surely you will see it—
though you alone may know.

And when you set your table
where all shall have their due,
Lord, make for us a place there,
that we may feast in you.

Title: "Blasts" from The Ram's Horn Year: 1902 (1900s) Authors: Subjects: Poetry Publisher: Chicago, The Ram's Horn Co.By Internet Archive Book Images - https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14781372921/Source book page: https://archive.org/stream/blastsfromramsho00unse/blastsfromramsho00unse#page/n34/mode/1up, No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42489652