Week of March 5, 2000
Pastor Tracie

As we approach the beginning of Lent with the observance of Ash Wednesday this week, it seems fitting to reflect on one of the traditional readings for the day. This one comes from Psalm 51:

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin..."

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit."

These verses from the psalm are somewhat familiar to us. They are part of our liturgy. We sing the second group of verses when we have given our offerings and bring the gifts to the table before the worship continues with communion. It seems significant that these are the same words read on Ash Wednesday as we think on our mortality and sinfulness at the start of the Lenten season.

For in both cases, during the weekly liturgy and on Ash Wednesday, we are coming before God acknowledging our sinfulness and daring to ask for forgiveness. On Wednesday we will do that as we enter into the journey toward the cross that Jesus walked. And for the remaining days of Lent we will contemplate the lengths that Jesus went to secure our salvation.

In our weekly worship, and especially before we share in Christ's supper, we gather with one another to hear and taste and receive the very forgiveness that Jesus' death secured. And so as we offer our gifts we also pray that God would cleanse us and set us right once again. We pray in the words of this psalm set to music that we would experience again the joy of being part of God's holy people.

As we prepare our hearts for the Lenten journey, may we each pray the words of this psalm with confidence, knowing that our God is indeed a God of steadfast love and abundant mercy. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Tracie
Published Sunday March 5, 2000
Week 15 of Liturgical Year B