Read Psalm 133.
For this meditation, I thought I might try my hand at paraphrasing this short but poignant psalm (emphasis on paraphrasing, definitely not translating, I don’t know Hebrew!). I know this exercise can be helpful for me when spending time in Scripture.
How amazingly good and enjoyable it is for brothers and sisters of a faith community to live life together in unity; working out inevitable differences and disagreements in order to dwell peaceably with one another!
Think of how priests are anointed with expensive oil, how it runs down from their head in abundance, reserved for a holy and sacred use. Faith communities are also a holy and sacred thing, meant to be generously experienced and seep into all aspects of life, just as the fragrance of oil would fill a space with a pleasant scent. Like the role of the priests, members bless and make holy and whole those around them.
Now think of rich dew on a mountain, flowing down to nourish an otherwise dry land. Community is life giving! It renews and refreshes. This is so important to God that He commands it, and calls it a blessing. The promise of life forever with God is perfected in unity, it is meant to be experienced now, amidst waiting for its ultimate fulfillment in eternity.
I hope this is an encouragement to first, see the great value and importance the Lord puts on faith communities, and to be thankful for how He has provided for you in this way (even if it is not perfect, because it never is!). Next, in the spirit of the examen, to reflect on the ways you are encouraging the community towards unity; and in what ways are you pushing the community away from unity?
Finally, I wanted to express my appreciation for this beautiful Christ City faith family, y’all are truly a gift.
- Christine L.