Lenten Homily by Chaplain Mary Sue Barnett, ARCWP

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