“Looks like you have a case of the Mondays!” Some people really loathe Mondays. The weekend is over. A stressful, long week lies ahead. For many people, it is rather depressing to wake up on a Monday morning.
Maybe it’s not Monday mornings for you, but you can probably relate to this feeling. Haven’t there been times in your life where you felt this way? Times when you felt burdened or overwhelmed? You might wonder, in near despair, how you might make it through the challenging things that lie ahead of you.
This kind of feeling can also affect us in a spiritual way. This feeling comes after making a bad decision. You feel guilty and burdened. Many people try to ignore this feeling. Many try to counter-balance it. Others try to wash this feeling away in a bottle of alcohol, or with drugs, or with some other moment of pleasure and self-gratification. But such things do not bring any lasting peace to the guilty conscience. In fact, it can drive people into deeper despair, feeling even more overwhelmed, lost, and hopeless! Christians however have found a different way to overcome this challenge. They take these burdens to Jesus, who takes them to the cross!
This is why Christians gather together in church for worship. In the Divine Service the sinner gives his burdensome sins to Jesus; and in return, hears Jesus speak beautiful, comforting, reassuring words of peace. This is especially true with the closing words of every church service, the words of the Benediction:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Jesus speaks through His messenger, the Pastor, assuring you that you can go out in peace! Even if it is a loathsome Monday morning, Jesus promises in His Benediction that He will be with you through it all. He will be blessing you, keeping you, shining His love upon you, looking upon you with favor, and giving you peace!
Thank you Lord for the comfort You give in Your Benediction, assuring me of Your peace. Amen.