March 3

Psalm 128

Link to Bible Verses: Psalm 128

Reverence: Inclusive of all of creation—including self—because of the spark of the Divine in all

To revere is to feel deep respect and admiration for someone or something. In the context of Benedictine values, reverence is offered for all of creation for no reason other than the belief that God is in all. We are called to revere God, yes, but also every single person—including ourselves—as well as the natural world and universe. God’s fingerprints are everywhere, as the camp song tells us.

What does reverence look like? Awe and wonder come to mind, as do respect and gratitude. What about fear, as mentioned in Psalm 128? Although that’s not where my heart goes, I do know some strains of Christian thought assert reverence worthy of God leads to fear of God, specifically a holy fear of God. If so, then what do we do with the message that revering God leads to a “happy home”? In some ways, that may read as conditional and manipulative: revere me and be rewarded.

Pushing beyond the surface, though, think about what might happen if we take on a disposition of reverence. What might it be like to spend time every day in awe and wonder of this world? What if we challenge ourselves to encounter others throughout our day with respect and gratitude, especially when someone is being a pain in the patoot? Whether or not we perceive the results as rewards or gifts from God, I suspect our lives will increase in joy and gratitude. Honestly, that’s not really a small thing.

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten Devotions.