Psalm Meditation 914
Fourth Sunday of Advent/Christmas Eve
December 24, 2017

Psalm 128
1 Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways.
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
(NRSV)

The two extremes of being afraid of someone have to do with whether or not we want to be in their company. We are afraid of some people in a way that we do not want to be near them. They are creepy, violent, or mean in a way that we do not like being around them. They have a way of sucking the life out of us. When we are in the same place together we are mindful of where they are so that we can avoid them if possible. When we must interact with them we stay as distant and formal as we possibly can to protect ourselves from further damage.

We are afraid of other people in a way that draws us to them. We are in awe of them. We want to be close to them and find ourselves wide eyed and open mouthed around them. They have a way of enlivening us. We find and make ways to be near them, though not too close. We are afraid our excitement will get the better of us and we will be incapable of communicating with them in any meaningful way. We want to approach and we want to run away all at once so we find a comfortable distance hoping to move closer as we spend time together.

God wants us to be drawn in; to want to be in God’s presence. God is one who is touched by our awe and who wants us to know that we are welcome and encouraged to come as close as we are comfortable. As we approach God includes us into the conversation and activity as one who has a place close to God. We may continue to feel unworthy, however it is not God who makes us feel that way. When we allow ourselves to join in, to claim the place God offers, we will be happy/blessed.

December 18, 2017
LCM