The
scriptural reading that I have chosen for our worship service is the 23rd
Psalm. Down through the ages, to persons
living at many different times, from very different cultures, and speaking very
different languages, the words of the 23rd Psalm have been a special
source of strength and comfort at times in loss and grief.
This
beloved Psalm begins with a simple confession:
“The Lord is my Shepherd.” In the
ancient world of the psalmist, kings were understood to serve as shepherds of
their constituents. So, by declaring
that God is his shepherd, the psalmist professes his loyalty to God and his
intention to live under God’s Reign.
The kings were
responsible for stewardship of the land, while also taking responsibility for
the flourishing and well-being of their subjects. Thus, the psalmist continues with this
metaphor when he proclaims that God “maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters” (vs. 2).
Just as the sheep trust their shepherd to find pastures with green grass
for nourishment and plenty of water for drinking, so also the psalmist trusts
God to provide life and security for those persons who are faithful. In verse 3, the psalmist says that God “restoreth
my soul.” In other words, the psalmist
is saying that “God keeps me alive.”
In verse 4, the psalmist continues by noting
that even in the most life threatening situations, God is with us and we have
nothing to fear. The shepherd’s rod and
staff, which are used to herd and drive the sheep in the right direction, are
re-assuring for the psalmist because these shepherd’s tools indicate that God
is guiding us and keeping us safe from the hazards of the road, which seem to
be all around us.
In verses 5-6, the final
two verses of the psalm, the metaphor shifts from portraying God as the
protective, caring shepherd to an image of God as the gracious host.
In verse 5, God prepares
a table for the psalmist, “in the presence of mine enemies.” The tone and confidence of the overall psalm
suggests that the table is laden with a sumptuous feast which God has
prepared. And, indeed, the psalmist’s
cup is filled to overflowing. This image
of a rich and extravagant feast is reinforced by a rich oil which is used to anoint
the psalmist’s head, just as we might luxuriously rub lotion on our bodies--or
anoint our bodies with perfume. The
phrase, “in the presence of mine enemies,” indicates that the psalmist is
confident that he feasts under God’s protection and that God will keep him safe
and secure.
The psalm concludes in
verse 6 with the observation that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,” and that God the ever-gracious host will welcome the
psalmist to stay in God’s house forever.
We frequently associate the
23rd Psalm with funerals and its words have always offered comfort
and healing to those who grieve from a loss.
Yet, note that the redemptive and healing power of this psalm for those
who grieve rests on four core theological convictions about God:
1. God reigns as ruler. Despite our losses and griefs, God is
ultimately in control.
2. God is a loving and gracious God who
provides good things for those who are faithful. This graciousness of God is depicted in both
metaphors. In the image of the shepherd,
God provides green grass and cool water for the sheep. In the image of the banquet host, God spreads
a sumptuous table with plenty of food and drink. Further, those who are faithful to God are cleansed
and anointed with rich oil.
3. God provides protection and security
from all that threatens us with harm.
Again, this is depicted in both the shepherd and host images
of who God is. As the shepherd, God’s
rod and staff keep the sheep safe from wandering where it is unsafe. As the gracious host, God can prepare the
luxurious table in the presence of the psalmist’s enemies because God offers
protection against any harm that the enemies may wish to inflict.
4. Even in the face of death and loss, all
will be well through God’s care and protection.
As verse 6 says so eloquently, “Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
This beloved psalm
strongly underscores our conviction that ultimately we receive healing from our
griefs and losses through God. Yet, I
will suggest in my sermon that God invites us as Christians to enter into a
junior partnership as co-healers for those around us when they experience
profound loss. In other words, I will
propose that part of discipleship is to serve as co-healers for those who
grieve.
Of course, before we can
serve as co-healers, we must first understand what
grief is and what the mechanics of grieving are.
As it turns out, we can observe several stages of grief through which
persons usually go. Although there are
different ways to categorize these stages of grief, in my sermon I will
focus on and develop the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross five-stage model for
understanding grief. With the help of
Andrea Ruiz, a trained and licensed counselor, we will describe these five steps
and suggest methods for promoting healing at each of these stages. The five stages are:
a. Denial
and Isolation
b. Anger
c. Bargaining
d. Depression
e. Acceptance
Come,
join us this Sunday (November 1st), as we commemorate our deceased loved ones
on All Saints Day, and also explore how we can be co-healers with God for those
living loved ones who grieve deaths and other major losses. Christ United Methodist Church, is located at
4530 A Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our
classic worship services are at 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings.
Everyone is welcome and accepted because
God loves us all.
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