Chrism

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2)

Lord have mercy on us, for mercy’s sake. We have nothing to plead God with, but he forgives us due to his lovingkindness and the goodness of His nature. He blots out our transgressions, like a debt is crossed out of the books when the debtor has paid it or the creditor has remitted it. Christ’s blood, sprinkled upon our consciences, purifies, and washes us thoroughly from our sin. When God pardons our sin, he cleanses us from it, and we become acceptable to Him again. It is a pity that our address to God should be filled with confessions of sin, rather than constant praise for His Glory. Yet God is always merciful, and forgives us from our faults.

Sin is the wound, confession is the medicine. – St. John Chrysostom

– Meditations from Psalm 51 by Matthew Henry