Today’s Scripture readings: Psalm 17; Zechariah 3:1-10; 2 Peter 2:4-21
Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.” --Zechariah 3
I headed to the dry cleaners this week in preparation for Easter. I had just worn my favorite white stole for Transfiguration Sunday and knew I wanted it pristine for Easter Sunday morning. Since I won’t be using it again during the Lenten season, off I went to have it laundered.
When I arrived, I noticed more than the usual filth. It’s a hazard to wear white during a service of Holy Communion. Somehow, I always manage to splash the grape juice. While that’s not a problem during Lent (since my robe is often black and my stoles are purple), those dark red juice stains against the stark white of an Easter morning will shout to the world of my clumsiness. Add that to the inevitable makeup, sweat stains around the collar and the color of whatever I leaned against that day. Yes, time for a cleansing.
Visiting the dry cleaners seemed a mundane chore at the time. With a bit of reflection, though, I am reminded that the early Christians spent many weeks prior to Easter Sunday preparing for their initiation into the Body of Christ. On that day, they would enter into the baptismal pool and emerge to be clothed in bright white robes – a symbol of their inner cleansing in the sight of God. Being wrapped in that new and pure clothing was an extraordinary moment in time – a moment you had prepared for so intently, a moment you would carry with you forever, a moment when you embraced your standing as a child of God. When viewed as an act of preparing for Easter, suddenly dry cleaning isn’t so routine. I’ll be thinking about that when I take my white robe to be cleaned this week.
In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua, the High Priest, stands before the Lord in dirty clothing. Actually, the word is translated ‘filthy’ and is the strongest Hebrew expression of filth possible. In this setting, filthy means disgusting, despicable, revolting and anything else you might think of as vile. It’s an outward sign of an inward condition. Joshua is filthy physically and spiritually – clothed in nastiness and covered in sin.
Satan is quick to point out the High Priest’s filth, but God stands firm in shielding and taking care of Joshua. Through God’s messenger, Joshua is purified. His dirty clothes are taken away, and he is clothed with rich robes. In other words, Joshua now stands before the Lord cleansed from his sin and clothed by God in righteousness.
Zechariah’s beautiful vision promises peace and a holiness of life to those who keep their eyes on Jesus. Having this season to study God’s Word, reflect on God’s promises, and prepare for our resurrection story is a Lenten gift.
Cleansing God, I want nothing more than to keep my eyes on you. Free me from my sin and wrap me in the purity of your Love. Amen.
Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.” --Zechariah 3
I headed to the dry cleaners this week in preparation for Easter. I had just worn my favorite white stole for Transfiguration Sunday and knew I wanted it pristine for Easter Sunday morning. Since I won’t be using it again during the Lenten season, off I went to have it laundered.
When I arrived, I noticed more than the usual filth. It’s a hazard to wear white during a service of Holy Communion. Somehow, I always manage to splash the grape juice. While that’s not a problem during Lent (since my robe is often black and my stoles are purple), those dark red juice stains against the stark white of an Easter morning will shout to the world of my clumsiness. Add that to the inevitable makeup, sweat stains around the collar and the color of whatever I leaned against that day. Yes, time for a cleansing.
Visiting the dry cleaners seemed a mundane chore at the time. With a bit of reflection, though, I am reminded that the early Christians spent many weeks prior to Easter Sunday preparing for their initiation into the Body of Christ. On that day, they would enter into the baptismal pool and emerge to be clothed in bright white robes – a symbol of their inner cleansing in the sight of God. Being wrapped in that new and pure clothing was an extraordinary moment in time – a moment you had prepared for so intently, a moment you would carry with you forever, a moment when you embraced your standing as a child of God. When viewed as an act of preparing for Easter, suddenly dry cleaning isn’t so routine. I’ll be thinking about that when I take my white robe to be cleaned this week.
In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua, the High Priest, stands before the Lord in dirty clothing. Actually, the word is translated ‘filthy’ and is the strongest Hebrew expression of filth possible. In this setting, filthy means disgusting, despicable, revolting and anything else you might think of as vile. It’s an outward sign of an inward condition. Joshua is filthy physically and spiritually – clothed in nastiness and covered in sin.
Satan is quick to point out the High Priest’s filth, but God stands firm in shielding and taking care of Joshua. Through God’s messenger, Joshua is purified. His dirty clothes are taken away, and he is clothed with rich robes. In other words, Joshua now stands before the Lord cleansed from his sin and clothed by God in righteousness.
Zechariah’s beautiful vision promises peace and a holiness of life to those who keep their eyes on Jesus. Having this season to study God’s Word, reflect on God’s promises, and prepare for our resurrection story is a Lenten gift.
Cleansing God, I want nothing more than to keep my eyes on you. Free me from my sin and wrap me in the purity of your Love. Amen.