Washed clean with pure water

We are in week two of Lent now, and also today is the first day of March 2021. For many of us, it seems like it's been March for an entire year, as everything suddenly changed in March 2020. But this March things are looking much better than last March. We know that life is changing again and while the losses of the last year have been horrific, a new day is coming as more and more of us are able to receive the vaccine to protect us from the worst effects of COVID-19.

Today's collect introduces us to some new imagery:

Let your Spirit, O Lord, come into the midst of us to wash us with the pure water of repentance, and prepare us to be always a living sacrifice to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I like the idea of being washed with the pure water of repentance so that we may be a living sacrifice. Nothing about denial and fasting today. And nothing suggesting that we need to work so hard to number our sins. Just let the Spirit come among us and wash us clean! What a beautiful image with which to start the month of March.