Psalm 27 on the 11th day of Advent...

One of my favorite blogs ~ and one with the most Biblical depth ~ is the Velveteen Rabbi @ http://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/.  Rachel Barenblat is poetic, wise, grounded in her tradition and deeply committed to the heart and soul of compassionate, prophetic Judaism. In a blog from 2004, she notes that Psalm 27 is recited for a month in anticipation/preparation for the teshuvah ~ repentance ~ of Rosh Hashanah. A link from this blog by Rabbi Amy R. Scheinerman brings added insight to our Christian reflections during Advent. (Great blessings are in store for those who check out her insights @ http://scheinerman.net/judaism/hhd/teshuvah/psalm27-1.html)

Two Advent thoughts grow out of my time with this Psalm:

The first has to do with the Light.  Not only is this an invitation to enlightenment ~ and seeing ourselves in honesty and truth ~ but for Christians it is an awareness that Christ's light grows within and among us as we practice repentance.  Often we are bullshit artists who see the "speck in an other's eye" without owning the "log in our own."  We are quick to judge and condemn others but ache for mercy when it comes to our own failings. 

Living into the light of God asks us to be be clear about what we keep in the darkness.  It is also an invitation to seek out the light of God in all its mysterious forms as it grows stronger in this season.  Think of the times Jesus spoke of light...

+ You are the light of the world (Matthew 5: 14)
+ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. (Luke 11:35)
+ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8: 12)

The second has to do with our fears:  they are real. Today at Eucharist we spoke of this Psalm noting that God's presence allows us to enter our fears, but does not take them away. I am afraid at times for my children. I am also afraid of the unknown and those who are committed to evil in all its forms.  Faith in the Lord does not take these dangers away, but does empower me to face and enter them.

Some of us are terrified of living ~ some of us are ashamed to turn back to God ~ and some of us are so self-absorbed that we don't even let God into the equation.  Rabbi Scheinerman writes: Rabbi Bunam, a Hasidic leader who lived a century ago, taught his followers: "Our great transgression is not that we commit sins: Temptation is strong and our strength is weak. No, our transgression is that at every instant we can turn to God -- and yet we do not turn!" Now is the season to turn. Teshuvah, which we translate "repentance" actually means "turning."

What does turning from the darkness ~ fear ~ and living into the light mean for you this Advent?

NOTE:  On Sunday, December 18th the noted scholar and co-editor of the Jewish Annotated New Testament, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, will be with us for a time of teaching, worship and conversation.  She will have copies of her book to purchase and sign, too.  Come on UP to the house for this great event.