Monday of Holy Week by Caitlin Bentzinger 3/29/21

Scripture Reading: Psalm 36:5-11

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds."
-Psalm 36:5 NLT

Why do we go to service every Sunday? This is a loaded question that I have been pondering during this pandemic as we try to navigate a new “normal” that still adapts to our comfort zone. We long for the day that we can return to Sunday services and not feel like we are putting our lives in danger. We contemplate whether or not to attend worship via in-person service or online. Most importantly, we notice what our hearts are missing during this time and strive to fulfill that longing desire to be in communal worship in the sanctuary surrounded by those we love. However, I encourage you to stop and consider why you attend worship. Our intention for attending service is to worship our Heavenly Creator. What do we give the God who has everything; who knows everything; who feels everything? We give this time of worship to praise God with our everlasting loyalty, respect, and love. As we read in this scripture passage, we are reminded that God’s love is unfailing, God’s faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. God cares for people and animals alike and we find shelter in the shadow of God’s wings. We are blessed to be loved and cared for by God’s incomprehensible love, and we worship God and give our thanks for these gifts.

Right now, the physical aspects of worship are very different than what we are used to, but this also gives us a reality check and insight to reflect on what it means for us to be in worship. Rather than focusing on what it is that WE receive out of worship and how WE feel during worship, we can take this time to consider what it is that we are putting into worship. We can no longer just “go through the motions” of worship. Our responsibilities to put more intentional effort into worship is more important now than ever. It is easy to attend service on Sunday and thank God when everyone around us is doing the same work, but now it is up to us on a more individual basis to consider and put everything our hearts can give into committing our love and respect to God. Let us take this time during Holy Week to remember that we only see tomorrow because of God. We have hope because of God. If we are to ask God to pour out God’s unfailing love unto those who love God, then we must also give all that we are to God. It is our responsibility to put in all of our effort to worshiping our God who gives us what we need to see our remaining tomorrows. Thanks be to God who feeds us from the abundance of God’s house - who lets us drink from God’s rivers of delight. Thanks be to God who is our fountain of life and the light by which we see. Amen.

--Caitlin Bentzinger