Wash Me Lord

Dear Sisters,
I was at mass last week and following along in the Magnificat.  Using this guide, I am much more focused in the mass and 'in the moment'.  Only1holyspirit introduced me to the Magnificat several years ago.  In our time together, I have added small devotions and aides in my spiritual journey. Each of you has added something unique to this faith walk.  Thank you Sisters for your constant companionship, support and love.  Please know that your intentions are prayed for often as I know you do the same for me.

Back to the subject of this blog...There is a moment in  the mass when the Priest says "Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."  In an instant, I was reminded of the passage in Matthew 27:24

  So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing , but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood;see to it yourselves." 

The actions of the priest on Sunday and of Pilot before the Crucifixion seemed oddly similar.  I was arrested for a few minutes as I pondered why this should be.

The difference of course is that in Pilot's case he believes his words and gestures have meaning because of his exalted self-image.  The priest however is humble in his request that THE LORD wash him of his sin and iniquity.  He knows well that he does nothing on his own power and only through the mercy and grace of God can the gesture of water on his hands truly do what he speaks...that is cleanse him.

The more I study and ponder the way of the Lord, I see that the battles we face today are the same battles faced throughout time.  So many in our society believe as Pilot did that by taking a different path and cleaning up their act, that they somehow have made reparation for past wrongs.  They believe that of their own power they can change the course of their lives.  They rely on their own gestures, words and belief in their own guts with no glance upward to God.  They believe in something that can never make them clean or whole...their own power.

If they only understood that just a few moments in a confessional could do more good for their lives than a million empty gestures and words ever could.  Those of us that enter the confessional believe not in our power, but in God's.  We know that we can't possibly change anything in our lives, nor can our past be whitewashed and forgiven just because we are now 'good people'.  The sin remains until we do as the priest does and humbly go before the Lord and ask that we be washed of our sins.  And what does this loving God of ours do?  He washes us clean in His blood!

The confidence I have Lord is in your unfathomable mercy.  I humbly ask you to forgive me my sins and ask for the grace to live in obedience to your will.
AMEN

Your broken pencil...