Well…I know it was almost 2 whole weeks ago, but who could forget the time we spent in Psalm 103? (Or the homework that we agreed to work on?).
Two Sundays ago, we altered our rhythm a little. We had a little bit more silence to what we’ve become used too (about 1 minute after each reading of scripture). After hearing Psalm 103 read aloud once, we were silent for a longer period of time. During the silence there was the invitation to look (& listen) on our own to the scripture, using your own Bible, the Bible in front of you, or perhaps the print out of the scripture. The invitation was especially open to use the print out of the scripture so that as we continued to look/listen/be open to what the Holy Spirit was highlighting in Psalm 103 we could highlight words or phrases, or underline verses — using a print out (especially for some people who would never imagine writing in a Bible!) allows us to look closely at the scripture before us, to see what words might be repeated, to focus in on the verbs or the nouns in the passage and to ask questions — printing out a section of scripture (or writing it out!) invites us to slow down with scripture and to possible see what it has to say to us with eyes open — instead of knowing exactly what it says (ahhh — this passage, easy I’ve memorized it I’ve read it so much!) — this slowing down, invites us into an intimate space with the Holy Spirit guiding us to just what God might be highlighting. While we stayed silent for only a few minutes, this is a practice (a way) of reading scripture or meditating on scripture that you can do for much longer too! In fact, if you do sit with some scripture I would love to hear what God speaks to you about whatever passage you might sit with — so please don’t be shy!
And after the silence we opened up to discussion. The first to share was someone for whom this scripture has a deep meaning for them — someone they loved once offered they read it during a challenging time and so they have walked with it ever since. It was interesting that the person offered it but did not necessarily say why they had offered it to this other person, instead they allowed God & the scripture to do & be what was needed. What faith! Do we have that type of faith — to trust that God will show up in the scriptures & speak, offer comfort — transformation & healing? Often I think we find we need to be more “hands-on” — offering an introduction to the life-giving (Word, God, Christ, Holy Spirit) — perhaps a topic for another time, but what would we (life/church/world?) look like it we really did trust God?
Someone else offered their translation which read, “Praise the LORD” instead of what the translation we had heard (“Bless the LORD.”) And of course, that brought up a question, what exactly is it to bless the Lord? And there was a challenge in the text too — this idea of “fearing” the Lord? What is that?! And we had a discussion, mentioning earthly Fathers who were loving (and perhaps stern too) — some who wanted the best for us, but who also instilled a bit of fear — in the sense that if we did not do what was expected….errr well, because the Father was consistent we knew what would be coming! And yet, this conversation regarding what it is to “fear” God, an understanding of reverence or awe — something else? — a good type of fear — is an ongoing conversation. Language changes over the years and through translations, so to understand what the original author was trying to convey will prove challenging! And yet, it serves us well as we seek to hear from God & take scripture seriously — what does it mean to fear God?, do we still find that need in the New Testament?, what is lost if we functionally ignore this fear? Psalm 103:17a reads,
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him…
We did not answer the question of fear and that likely is an invitation for us all to continue pondering this in our life (our faith journey, our walking daily with God). But we did leave with a “homework” assignment – a 2-week one! We were sent out to “Bless the LORD!” Psalm 103 begins as it ends,
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Ok — if you look closely the opening ends with a “.” and the ending closes with a “!” I like that — it’s almost as though the beginning Blessing (or Praising) is more tentative than the ending…as though we grow in strength in the Blessing & the Praising through the practice of doing so, through the living of doing so. And so, 2 weeks ago, before the community ecumentical Thanksgiving service, and before families (and friends too) gathered to share a meal and time on the 4th Thursday in November — we received the homework to go out and to Bless the LORD! And to come back in two weeks with the stories of what exactly that turned out to be & looked like! And well…tomorrow is the day when we will check in. So — there’s still time (because perhaps the invitation is for at all times to Bless & Praise the LORD!)
Love ya & See y’all tomorrow @ 10AM!
~ Rev. Sabrina Slater