March 14/Third Saturday of Lent
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. ~ Ps 51.4
In a lecture some years ago, the spiritual writer Kathleen Norris observed of laundry, “I might characterize it as approaching the moral realm; there are days when it seems a miracle to be able to make dirty things clean.” For those of us who are not constantly facing an avalanche of young children’s dirty garments, there is indeed gratification to be found in converting a soiled, jumbled heap into a neatly folded stack of clean, fresh clothes. I take special satisfaction in eradicating deep-set stains: red wine, perspiration, clay, chocolate, and (worst of all) ballpoint pen ink, all inspire me to take whatever measures are necessary. Spraying, scrubbing, soaking, rinsing, and then repeating the steps all over again – I will go to great lengths before declaring an item of clothing unredeemable. This is just the kind of spiritual purification signified by the “laundering” verbs in verse 4 of today’s psalm: a vigorous, even abrasive cleansing. The process of repenting and being forgiven by God may scour our souls, at times; it may leave us feeling wrung out. But the point of such cleansing action is not to ruin, but to restore. We offer God the stains that are deeply set in our souls precisely so that we can be redeemed and start afresh. After we have put ourselves in the hands of the “master launderer,” and have sought his mercy, we may begin again on the path to holiness, scrubbed clean and renewed for the journey ahead, moving forward in the light of God’s forgiving love. And that, truly, is a miracle.
Holy God, Rinse my heart of the stain of my wrongdoing, and renew my spirit with your loving faithfulness. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031426.cfm
To hear the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, sing Samuel Wesley’s “Wash Me Throughly,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=192TzmFAEQs&list=RD192TzmFAEQs&start_radio=1
