Airing Our Dirty Laundry

Reflection on the lectionary texts for Ash Wednesday

As we prepare for Easter Sunday and the celebation of resurrection on April 24 the last thing on our mind is airing our dirty laundry! Who in their right mind and in proper company would even think of such a thing? Who would dare bring to light the secrets we keep hidden? Who would dare speak truth to power? Who would dare admonish the weak and the humble? Who would challenge the apathetic? Who would dare?

I think specifically of the Hebrew prophet, Isaiah, for one! King David of Israel, for another! Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount as Matthew records it. And the Apostle Paul as he defends his ministry! Scripture provides a long line of godly women and men who have not been afraid to air their dirty laundry! Exposing injustices in the community of faith--confessing personal sins--revealing the secret motives of the heart--speaking truth in love--declaring God's righteousness imputed to Christ's followers!

Many communities of the Christian faith declare the 40 days leading to the celebration of resurrection on Easter Sunday as a time of reflection--a time for each one of us to identify the motive and intentions of our heart--a time to reach out to estranged relationships in the church and in our families--a time to seek reconciliation, through words of encouragement, repentance, and hope. This season is called Lent, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "spring." So in other words, this is a time dedicated to spring cleaning, a time to air our dirty laundry, and let the Lord do the wash!

Please consider these thoughts in light of the following scriptures: 2 Samuel 11 & 12 coupled with Psalm 51; Matthew 6:1-6 and vs 16-21; 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10; Isaiah 58; Isaiah 64:5-6