Washing

While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.” One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:37-52 

It seems like ages ago, but when Covid first began there were all sorts of videos teaching us how to wash our hands. The remnant of that anxiety is splashed all over every public restroom still. Hand sanitizers are everywhere still, though often empty. Our worries about washing hands and masking have mostly been put aside. Yet, in the peak of the pandemic, we were all judging those who didn't mask and those who would not wash their hands. Ritual washing at the altar has become much more important. In all times, pandemic or not, we rush to judgement for other peoples' outside mistakes and fail to recognize our own failures and brokenness.

Wondrous Creator, you have called us all good

and made waters of rivers and great streams

to wash our bodies and our dwellings

and welcome all to your table of love.

We rush to judge those who cannot wash

we reject those who have no dwellings

we turn away from those who you call

and wonder why you aren't among us.

Help us to set all judgment aside

and examine our hearts and our lives

help us make room for your love

and live for all who you love and serve. Amen.