How very good and pleasant it is

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents.

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 for evermore.

Remember this is a psalm sung by pilgrims who have been journeying together for a number of days, being in close proximity to each other for extended periods of time. That is not easy, nerves get frayed, tempers flare, in that context “how very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity” is much more than just words on a page, they are about actually living into the commitment to be in unity.

A quick comment on unity – this is not lock-step agreement on everything, rather this is a commitment to care for each other, to be kind to one another, to know that they have your back and you have their back. This is far more about actions than it is about all agreeing on a collection of divisive issues. In fact, it is the question can we care for people – show compassion – to people with whom we disagree. Can we live in the unity of care, even if we disagree?

In fact, being able to show care and compassion across difference is more powerful than showing care and compassion to people like ourselves with whom we agree on just about everything. When opponents care for each other, when those who see the world differently show genuine care for the other, it is as life-giving as the dew that waters the gardens in a dry land. When people reach past the things that divide and find ways to care in practical real ways for the other – it is as sacred as the anointing oil used to mark God’s presence and blessing.

Life begins in such a place of care that reaches across such division.

PRAYER:

O Lord, we live a world divided and angry. We connect only with people who think like us, agree with us. Teach us the slow, painful, risky work of reaching across division to show care and compassion to people with whom we have differences. Teach us to care across frayed relationships. Show us the rich blessing that comes from caring in such a way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.