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| Mary Sue Barnett ARCWP |
Midday
Prayer 3/7/2018
Hospital
Chapel
Lenten
Homily
Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling
place,
O God of hosts!
2
My soul longs, indeed it
faints
for the courts of God;
my heart and my flesh sing
for joy
to the living God.
3
Even the sparrow finds a
home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O God of
hosts,
my Holy One and my God.
4
Happy are those who live in
your house,
ever singing your praise.
5
Happy are those whose strength
is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6
As they go through the
valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7
They go from strength to
strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8
O God of hosts, hear my
prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
10
For a day in your courts is
better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
11
For God is a sun and shield;
bestowing favor and honor.
No good thing does God
withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12
O God of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Homily
As you see, I printed the words of verse 6 in bold font.
And we just read this verse aloud together.
I highlight verse 6 because I see meaning
in these particular words for us here today
in this hospital,
together in this chapel,
during this season of Lent.
In these words, God speaks life to us today.
Again, verse 6 says;
"As they go through the valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools."
“The valley of Baca,” says the Psalmist who knows God’s
dwelling place to be lovely.
“The valley of Baca,” says the Psalmist whose heart sings
for the living God.
What is “Baca?”
The English letters B—a—c—a —create the English pronunciation
of the Biblical Hebrew word
בכה
which means to weep, cry, mourn, bewail.
The valley of Baca in the Psalm
does not necessarily refer to a physical place,
or a literal valley in the Ancient Near East.
It can refer to the human experience of suffering
that causes one to weep bitterly.
It can refer to the human experience of walking
a long road of painful struggle.
The word Baca is found in other places in scripture
where we see stories of human beings,
specific individuals,
walking through a valley of tears.
In the Book of Ruth (1:14) the story tells
of three vulnerable women,
Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah,
who must search for a way to survive.
As widows in poverty
they are devastated and fearful.
The three women cry aloud together.
In the Book of Job (2:12) the story tells
of Job’s three friends
who don’t even recognize him
for the suffering is so severe.
Witnessing his incomprehensible losses
of home, children, livelihood,
and the onset of serious illness,
the three friends weep aloud together.
We see the word Baca also in the biblical prophets:
In Isaiah (22:4) the prophet weeps bitter tears
for the suffering people.
In Jeremiah (9:10) the prophet instructs the people
to weep for the beloved ones who are desolate.
As we follow this brief scriptural trail
of the valley of weeping,
we discover that human beings
who are suffering
are not alone.
We see in Ruth that the three women
have each other's love and support
to walk into the unknown future,
seeking
communal safety and stability.
We see in Job that the three friends
who grieve with him
also embark on a journey of
seeking understanding with Job
which leads him into
the presence of Holy Wisdom,
into the great wonders of Holy Mystery.
We see in the prophets that our God is One Who
calls people to feel the pain of others,
and to intervene in the sorrow.
This is Who our God is----
God is One Who brings waters of new life
to our valleys of weeping.
God intends for us to be showered with love
in our desert places.
God gives us people so that no
valley of suffering is endured alone.
We are created to live in God’s presence.
God's presence is your gentle home
through any valley of weeping,
whatever the suffering is
and however long it lasts.
Psalm 84 says that even the swallow,
one very little song bird,
finds a home in God's lovely dwelling place.
When you yearn for comfort, for relief,
and for rest in the weariness,
be reminded and be confident that God
Who knows and cares for
Ruth,
Naomi,
Orpah,
Isaiah,
Jeremiah,
and a tiny song bird that flies to and fro,
and across the world,
knows and cares for you.
Uniquely, for you.
Amen
Chaplain Mary Sue Barnett, ARCWP
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