First Parish Church in Dorchester
Unitarian Universalist

Sermons >2010-2011

The 23rd Psalm; It's a Love Story

Colleen Squires, Ministerial Intern, February, 13, 2011 (PDF file)

Call to Worship

1 John 4: 7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Readings

Psalm 23 - King James
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The Good Shepherd - Contemporary Bible
You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, LORD.

She comes- Psalm 23- A Feminist Rendition by Rev. Sally Coleman
She comes, my guide, my comforter, calling me to follow.
She leads me to restful oases of calm, places of refreshment and restoration.
She accompanies me on life's dark paths, encouraging, rebuking and challenging my ways, equipping me with strength through the hard times.
She is with me, and I am not afraid.
I attend Her banquet, Her table is laden with good things, with choice fruits and wine; and in the presence of my oppressors I am satisfied.
Her goodness and mercy are mine, and I will dwell in Her courts Forever.

Sermon

I want to begin by thanking Ana and our choir for a beautiful job singing the 23rd Psalm. For the past month or so Art, Lex, Harry and I have had the pleasure of hearing the choir practice this hymn on Sunday mornings. We would be busy moving chairs, setting up the microphone, folding the Order of Service and yet when the choir was singing this piece we would stop in our tracks and listen.

The sound was both beautiful and haunting. This particular version is from our teal hymnal; Hymn 1038 to be exact. And this version has been written and arranged by Bobby McFerrin. You know the Don’t Worry Be Happy guy from the 1980s.

The complete title in the hymnal reads The 23rd Psalm Dedicated to My Mother. I love that this is included in our hymnal because the Psalms are meant to be sung. The psalms are prayers that were originally put to music. But there is something else I love about this version of the Psalm. Bobby McFerrin uses the pronoun She throughout the psalm. At first glance I thought, “Oh wow, he is using the feminine image of God, pretty cool.” But then I took a second look at the title, The 23rd Psalm Dedicated to My Mother. It leaves me to wonder if the use of the pronoun She in reference to his mother; is his mother his Shepherd?

The 23 Psalm, like most psalms is a conversation between two beings. The first being is you. It is written in the first person, I shall not want. And in this Psalm you are speaking directly to the second being, The Lord who is your Shepherd.

Now if I were a Conservative Rabbi standing before the gathered members of a synagogue, I would say something like, “Your Lord, thy God, and I would speak about the fatherly love contained within this psalm. And if I were a minister serving an evangelical Christian church I would speak of, “Your Lord Jesus,” and I would point out the brotherly love recited in this prayer. But standing here within this Unitarian Universalist congregation I struggle with the word Lord.

For some is it a word that brings comfort and for other it causes this reaction, (fingers in ears) and for some it is a four letter word that otherwise complicates a simple Psalm of thanksgiving.

So let me approach the understanding of the 23rd Psalm from an entirely different angle. I want to share the story of a set of newborn twins. The two are baby girls born 12 weeks premature.

The girls were named Brielle and Kyrie Jackson They were born in October 1995, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Brielle was the smaller of the two twins just barely weighing 2 pounds. She was struggling. She had problems breathing, her blood-oxygen levels were low, and she had a weakened heart rate. Her sister Kyrie however, at two pounds and three ounces, was making good progress and gaining weight.

The girls were placed in separate incubators; a standard practice to reduce the risk of cross infection. The twins’ parents had little hope for Brielle's survival. Each day her condition worsened and she became increasingly stressed.

Meanwhile, a young nurse made an unheard of suggestion: to put both twins in the same incubator, hoping it would do some good. When they were finally placed together, nurses and doctors watched in amazement. First, the twins snuggled close then Kyrie, the healthier twin, put her tiny arm over her little sister. As the two frail babies nestled together, Brielle's breathing regulated to Kyrie's pace. Her blood oxygen levels improved, her heart rate improved and soon rose to normal. Both twins made a full recovery. This October they both will celebrate their sweet sixteen birthdays.

Here is the meaning of the 23rd Psalm.

The room was filled with doctors, nurses and even their parents. But only Kyrie was truly WITH Brielle. Kyrie’s gesture of placing her tiny arm around Brielle, was her way of saying, “I am here with you now.” Brielle could feel she was not alone.

In this version of the 23rd Psalm Brielle is the sheep and Kyrie is the shepherd. The conversation goes like this Brielle says, “Kyrie you are my shepherd, and you are all I ever needed. And though I was close to the shadow of death, I was not afraid because you were with me. You comforted me.”

The 23rd Psalm is a song of praise. It is a prayer of thanksgiving. And it speaks of the love between two beings. One person in need and the second being’s willingness to journey with the first. Kyrie snuggled close and Brielle was no longer alone.

There are many among us who are willing to take up the roll of the shepherd. A person who is willing to journey with those who struggle. Another shepherd who lives among us is the Rev. Kate Braestrup.

Rev. Braestrup is a Unitarian Universalist Minister, who serves as chaplain for Maine’s Warden Service. In her book, Here If You Need Me, Kate describes her calling like this, “I have a job that mostly requires me is to show up, shut my mouth and be.”

The reality is Rev. Braestrup joins the wardens as they search the wild lands and fresh waters of Maine for those who have lost their way, often young children. She will offer comfort to those who wait for their loved ones to be rescued, or for their bodies to be recovered. Hers is a ministry of presence. Like Kyrie, she is there because no one should struggle alone. She is the shepherd who comforts the weary.

She is a regular human being, just like you and me. And she is willing to be present during those difficult and rewarding times of life. Her book is a beautiful, thoughtful and sometimes a funny retelling of her journeying with others on those dark cold nights of waiting. It is also her story of coming to an understanding of God. For her God is Love. And where Love is - God is present.

She writes about one cold rainy night in the back woods of Maine. She sits in a car with a young man, and she has just broken the bad news that his sister’s body had been found. He asked if they could pray together. She begins, “Love is my shepherd, I shall not want. Love makes me lie down in green pastures; Love leads me besides still waters; Love restores my soul.”

Kate is a shepherd who comforts the worried. She is a regular human being, just like you and me. She is willing to be present during those difficult and rewarding times of life. This is an act of love.

There are times in life when we are the sheep. Will we brave enough to ask for help? And there are times in life when we are called to be shepherds. Will we be willing to be present during those difficult yet rewarding journeys of life?

The 23rd Psalm is a love story. It is the most popular passage in the Bible because it offers comfort to those who read it. It tells you in times of struggle you are not alone; that the great power of Love is with you, always.

There are many versions of the 23rd Psalm, but I must say I like the version Kate started to write best, let me finish with it now.

Love is my shepherd, I shall not want. Love makes me lie down in green pastures. Love leads me beside still waters. Love restores my soul;

Love guides me to the right path for my sake.

Even though I walk through hard times I am not afraid, Love is with me;

Love comforts me. Love feeds me and takes care of me and my cup overflows.

Kindness and mercy will be with me all the days of my life, for I am in Love. Amen.

Sources:
Nancy Sheehan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, A Sister's Helping Hand, 11/18/1995

Kate Braestrup, Here If You Need Me, Little, Brown and Company, 2007

© Colleen Squires