Psalm Meditation 1028
First Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2020

Psalm 133
1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
(NRSV)

The way we grow up is taken as the norm, the way everyone grows up. This is not the case. There are families who get along, have great trust and intimacy, and stay close through their entire lives. There are families who never mesh, who can’t wait to get away from each other, and keep their distance from the earliest possible moment. There are the families that fall in the broad spectrum of normal. And there are dysfunctional families.

Each family type contributes to the community in some way, some positively and others negatively. The psalmist praises the families that get along. A family that gets along is set apart in the same way Aaron, the first High Priest, was set apart for service to God. The oil was used to anoint folks who were set apart to serve in particular ways. The oil used was expensive and aromatic, so the temptation was to use it sparingly. To have the oil running from the top of the head to the collar of the robe was an indication of extravagance on the part of the one doing the anointing.

Family unity fills a community with abundance. The abundance may not be the kind that can be held in one’s hands, however it makes a positive difference in all those who come in contact with it. Our birth family makes a difference in our lives, however it does not make the final determination of who we are. We can strive to cultivate a spirit of abundance, generosity, and extravagance in all we are and do.

February 24, 2020
LCM