Hello, I'm Pastor Jorge Diaz
Today's Reflection is based on Psalm 133 which assures us that...

When there is harmony the Lord grants blessing and eternal life

Psalm 133 (NLT)

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
² For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured on Aaron's head that ran down his beard until it reached the hem of his robe.
³ Harmony is as refreshing as the dew of Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even eternal life.  

Just as it is not possible for a person to exist   without belonging to a family, we cannot be Christians without having anything to do with the church. Membership in a church is a basic spiritual fact for those who confess Christ as Lord. It is part of the very essence of redemption.

The question is NOT: Will I be part of a community of faith, but: How should I live within this community of faith?

Psalm 133 presents what we the followers of Jesus should pursue: How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!  The psalm turns into song what is said and demonstrated throughout Scripture and the church: the community of faith.

The Scriptures do not recognize a Christian as a lone ranger. People of faith are always members of a community.  It is not only necessary, but desirable that our faith have a social dimension, a human relationship: How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to live together in harmony!

Living in a community of faith, the church, is not an easy task.

While living in a community of faith is necessary and desirable, it is also enormously difficult.  In the phrase: that the brothers live together in harmony, that is a clue about the nature of the difficulty. Most Christians have some direct experience of what it means to live with brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters sometimes fight. That is why it is sometimes difficult to live in harmony with other people in a way that pleases the Lord.

Harmony is precious like the oil of anointing

In Psalm 133 there are two poetic images rich in ideas about how we can stimulate, facilitate, and create a good and pleasant community life in Christ. The first image describes harmony in the community as:

Oil, throughout Scripture, is a sign of God's presence, a symbol of God's Spirit. The oil glows, stores the warmth of the sun's rays, softens the skin, perfumes the person. There is a kind of warmth and comfort in God's community that contrasts with the coldness and harshness of people pushing and shoving through the menacing crowd and the throngs of people.

The anointing of the Old Testament reminds us that all believers, through Christ, are called to be agents of change, light in the darkness, and bearers of the message of the kingdom of God. By understanding and embracing this concept, we can live intentionally and effectively, fulfilling the work that God has placed in our hands.

 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew of Mount Hermon

In the second image it is presented as the morning dew.

The harmony is as refreshing as the dew of Mount Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion.

The oil that runs down Aaron's beard communicates warmth and a godly relationship.

The dew that descends the slopes of Hermon communicates something new, fresh and hopeful.   Oil and dew. The two things that make community living beautiful and pleasing to God.

Harmony brings blessing and eternal life from the Lord

The last line of the poem in Psalm 133 declares that the good and pleasant life of living together makes it possible for the Lord to bestow blessing and eternal life.

Psalm 133 presents us with a small hint of heaven; a hint that expands into a great vision in Revelation 4 and 5; In this way we understand that the good brotherhood that excites us here on earth is awaiting us in heaven.

Where relationships are warm, and expectations are full of hope is where we are already beginning to enjoy the life of cohabitation that will be completed in our eternal life. Which means that it is easy to imagine our life in heaven happy and joyful as being a big party more   than anything else. Let's gather in our imaginations all our favorite friends, the companions who have given us our greatest joy, the most stimulating relationships, the most delightful, shared experiences, the people who make us feel fully alive —that's an indication of what heaven is like, because that's where the Lord bestows blessing and eternal life. 

Pray

Heavenly Father, I recognize that I have not always been the best contributor to the harmony of the congregation. I beg you for forgiveness. Please help me know how to be a creative, active, and helpful participant in my community of faith. In Jesus' name. Amen

Reflection and action

Can you think of something with which you can contribute constructively to the harmony and fellowship in your congregation?

May God bless you is my heart’s desire and my prayer for you today.