Ash Wednesday
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
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.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
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.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits hunched down in a chair, tears streaming from
his eyes. Though it has been a year since his indiscretions were
made public, the shame of it burns hotly in his body.
He cannot bring his eyes to bear on anyone who visits; in fact,
he shuns human contact whenever possible. He recalls how good it
felt to be a so-called leading member of his community and the
camaraderie of the "noblesse oblige," those in the know.
How does God think of him? He opens a Bible and begins to read
about the greatest of the kings of Israel, David. He reads of
David's exploits and successes, his favor with God. David reminds
him of the man he used to be. Then he reads of David's sins, sins
that make his own pale by comparison. Finally, he reads of
David's prayer for forgiveness; forgiveness that will not only
benefit David but God's community. The Singer pauses, what is he
accomplishing by his own self-imposed isolation? Indeed, has he
not hurt his family and community more by denying them his God-
given gifts and talents?
The Singer bows his head and asks for God to wash his sins
from him as God had cleansed David. The Singer stands naked
before God and humans alike. Feelings of love and forgiveness and
freedom flood his being. He rushes out into the sunlight
thoroughly exposed to family, friends and all. He embraces and is
embraced by those who welcome him back into the land of the
sinners, the land of the saints. He returns to work.
Reflection
There is a freedom found only in exposed sin. When we seek to
hide our sins and the sins of others behind closed doors and
masks of false piety, we only delude ourselves and others. Our
deception increases our lack of reality and ability to deal with
life straight on. When we make unrealistic expectations of
ourselves and other human leaders, we live in a house of mirrors
that can only crack and leave us exposed and crushed.
God stands ever ready to eradicate sin. Even before we ask God
will forgive. But in the asking, we realize the power of God's
forgiveness and feel freedom.
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
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.
Alternate Image
The Singer sits hunched down in a chair, tears streaming from
his eyes. Though it has been a year since his indiscretions were
made public, the shame of it burns hotly in his body.
He cannot bring his eyes to bear on anyone who visits; in fact,
he shuns human contact whenever possible. He recalls how good it
felt to be a so-called leading member of his community and the
camaraderie of the "noblesse oblige," those in the know.
How does God think of him? He opens a Bible and begins to read
about the greatest of the kings of Israel, David. He reads of
David's exploits and successes, his favor with God. David reminds
him of the man he used to be. Then he reads of David's sins, sins
that make his own pale by comparison. Finally, he reads of
David's prayer for forgiveness; forgiveness that will not only
benefit David but God's community. The Singer pauses, what is he
accomplishing by his own self-imposed isolation? Indeed, has he
not hurt his family and community more by denying them his God-
given gifts and talents?
The Singer bows his head and asks for God to wash his sins
from him as God had cleansed David. The Singer stands naked
before God and humans alike. Feelings of love and forgiveness and
freedom flood his being. He rushes out into the sunlight
thoroughly exposed to family, friends and all. He embraces and is
embraced by those who welcome him back into the land of the
sinners, the land of the saints. He returns to work.
Reflection
There is a freedom found only in exposed sin. When we seek to
hide our sins and the sins of others behind closed doors and
masks of false piety, we only delude ourselves and others. Our
deception increases our lack of reality and ability to deal with
life straight on. When we make unrealistic expectations of
ourselves and other human leaders, we live in a house of mirrors
that can only crack and leave us exposed and crushed.
God stands ever ready to eradicate sin. Even before we ask God
will forgive. But in the asking, we realize the power of God's
forgiveness and feel freedom.
