Wash Me and I Will Be Clean

The writer of Psalm 51 may well be David and he shows us what to do when the awfulness of our actions comes home to us. First, he comes to God, not shrinks from him. He knows he is the only one who can deal with his dilemma. Second, he looks squarely at what he is and how unalterable this is. Then, he looks to God, as every human being must, to make him clean and upright. So, he recovers his identity and dignity as a human being and is eager to tell others where to 'get a life'.

In the Gospel reading, an angel tells Joseph that the child in his betrothed's womb will 'save his people from their sins'. No small thing to do! The life and death and resurrection of Jesus show us what a mess we have created, but also, what a thorough job Jesus had done to 'blot out all our transgressions.' May we all come to him, eagerly, and full of hope for the forgiveness of our sins.