“Cleanliness is next to Godliness” is one of those phrases that bunches of people think comes from Scripture, but doesn’t. See also: “This too shall pass,” “God helps those who help themselves.” 
It actually appears to be a paraphrase of a quote by the philosopher Francis Bacon who said, “Cleanness of the body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.”
Enter COVID-19, the Coronavirus, and we’re suddenly interested in cleanliness. Wash your hands. Put on your mask. Hand sanitizer. Bleach. When did you travel most recently?
Perhaps our sudden concern with cleanliness is an apt metaphor for Lent. Cleanse. Expel. Disinfect. Refine. Rinse. Be aware of the infectant. Launder. Scrub. These are all Lenten themes.
But even our well meaning sanitations are not purification enough. Set aside a certain pet sin, a guilty pleasure, or push it out with additional spiritual work – it still doesn’t get us clean, not really. All of the handwashing in the world and we’re still at risk.
Unless. The Blood of the Lamb. Spilt. For us.
Cleanliness may be next to Godliness. Godliness, however, is only just next to the Gospel.