together, sunday

Sunday, June 29

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer: All praise and thanks to thee, most merciful God, for adopting us as thine own children, for incorporating us into thy holy Church, and for making us worthy to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  Grant us, we pray, all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer)

Scripture Reading for the Day: Psalm 133:1-3

Reading for Reflection:

 

     I must admit, I've never had oil poured on my head--much less precious oil—so I don't really know what it feels like.  I imagine that it is an incredibly peaceful and wonderfully soothing experience, especially if the oil is rich and warm and fragrant.  It seems that it would be an experience that would engage all of your senses and bring enormous pleasure, peace, and healing to the recipient.  This Psalm indirectly uses the words good and pleasant to describe the experience.  And there's definitely something about those two words, especially together, that I really like.  Good (towb) has to do with the quality that a thing possesses or brings.  In this case, it points to the qualitative depth of a particular state of being or experience.  And then the word pleasant (na`iym) comes along and takes it up a notch.  Pleasant, in this context, literally means delightful.  So the pouring on of oil, as with the unity of God's people, is an experience of deep quality and total delight.  Pretty strong words.  I wonder if there's any way to get a Groupon for "an anointing?"  If so, sign me up.
     A while back I had the privilege of going to Haiti with a group of dear friends.  The purpose of our trip was to lead a retreat for some local missionaries in order to allow them time and space to be refreshed, renewed, and encouraged.  Well, truth be told, we were the ones that were encouraged.  These folks are some of the most courageous, compassionate, extraordinary people I have ever had the pleasure of being around.  They do heroic things for the Kingdom every single day, without anyone really knowing much about it.  They are a great picture of what the words good and pleasant really mean.  In fact, they bring those words to life. 

     And not only that, but the friends from Knoxville that I had the pleasure of traveling with were—in and of themselves—some of the most beautiful, gifted, loving, kind people I know.  Some of these dear friends used their gifts during the weekend to lead us in worship.  Some used their gifts to lead us in laughter.  Some used their gifts to speak words of life and peace and encouragement.  Some used their gifts to set the whole trip up and make sure it went without a hitch.  Some used their gifts to make sure everyone felt welcomed and special and cared for.  And some used their gifts to be with and to sit with and to talk with anyone and everyone in their path.
     And as I was in the midst of it all it struck me.  What was happening as we were together was that precious oil was continually being poured out upon my soul.  In fact, it was being poured upon all of us.  So that's what it feels like!  How incredibly beautiful!  How delightful!  How full!  How free!  How healing!  And I have a suspicion that, at the very same time, our beloved Jesus was having precious oil poured upon his head as well.  It was simply amazing.  When we come together with the loving intent of pouring precious oil upon one another, and upon Jesus, something magical happens.  Delight is created.  The delight of our hearts, reflecting the deep delight of our God.   

     When we freely give to one another the things and the gifts that God has freely given to us (for his glory and delight) real community forms.  And somehow new life is created both within us and among us.  Parker Palmer said it well when he wrote: "When the gift I give to the other is integral to my own nature, when it comes from a place of organic reality within me, it will renew itself—and me—even as I give it away. Only when I give something that does not grow within me do I deplete myself and harm the other as well, for only harm can come from a gift that is forced, inorganic, unreal." 
     So let us, this day, give what is ours to give.  Let us pour precious oil on the heads of those that come into our path, knowing that by doing this it will bring life to our souls and deep joy to the heart of our God.     

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

            
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we be one as you are one.  May we continually pour precious oil on each other’s heads.  Teach us how to love each other fully and freely.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.