Psalm 133 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 133 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Verse 2It 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.
Verse 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
Devotion
Gathered as Community—while socially distant
The psalmist’s words about living together in unity and loving one another seem to be so counter cultural to the ways of the 21st century. The drive for independence, personal wealth, and accomplishment, so familiar to us, seems only to separate rather than bring people together. The experience of separation has only become exacerbated since COVID-19 protocols have been put in place to slow the spread of the virus. Distanced from one another and wearing masks, the most vulnerable are isolated away from family and support systems. It would be so good and pleasant to live together once again in unity! Living together in unity is hard work; it means letting go of our need to be right. It means letting go and letting others. It means letting go and trusting in God together.
Prayer
Oh God, sometimes it is hard to live in community, yet you have given us all we need. Even in these days of uncertainty, you are present and have opened new ways of being together. Amen.