23rd Day of Lent

Monday, March 31, 2025

Leviticus 23:26-32, NIV

The Lord said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

Reflection - Pastor Caroline Bashore, First UCC, Royersford and Linfield UCC

Imagine standing before God, your hands full—gripping your plans, your comforts, your endless to-do lists, your tightly held control. And God says, “Let go.”

If you’ve ever seen Disney’s Frozen, you know the moment: Elsa, standing on the mountain, shedding her fear, her need for control, and finally singing, “Let it go, let it go! Can’t hold it back anymore!” She believed she had to be perfect, to hide her true self, to hold everything together. But in that moment, she releases it all.

There’s something powerful about letting go.

God commanded the Israelites to deny themselves on the Day of Atonement—not as a punishment, but as an invitation. They weren’t just called to give something up; they were called to create space for something greater.

Elsa let go of her fear—but what about us? What do we need to release? The need to always be right? The need for more—more success, more stuff, more approval? What if we let go of our control, our fear, our distractions?

And what if, in that space, we chose to give?

When we release our grip on what doesn’t matter, we open ourselves to what does. To kindness. To generosity. To love.

So, what are you holding on to? And what might happen if you simply... let it go?

Prayer: Help me let go of what keeps me from you, O God. Open my hands to give, my heart to love, and my life to reflect your grace. Amen.