2023 Lenten Season Week One: Dwelling Together in Unity by Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Philor

 

Scripture: Psalms 133:1 KJV 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 

Dwelling Together in Unity 

As a child, I was not a fan of having a sibling; and much worse an older sibling. My brother and I would spend our days doing anything from watching cartoons to playing outside but it would lead to us fighting each other. We were not the kids who loved on each other all day long. We drove our parents crazy because we could not be left alone for more than an hour without us fighting. Between his attitude and my smart mouth, there would be some issue within a short matter of time. Because of this known behavior of ours, we were forced to share a room for most of our childhood. Despite there being an additional bedroom in the house, my father forced us to share the same living space. He said we needed to learn how to be together and at least tolerate each other. Granted, anyone who lived outside our home who had an issue with one of us, had to deal with both of us, that unity was not common in our family home. Though it was a rough transition, our teenage years brought us closer as siblings. Though we occasionally still get on each other’s nerves; we learned that our unity came from us sharing enough space together to understand each other. 

Throughout the pandemic, we have found it difficult to be in the same room with all our siblings, whether the ones in our bloodline or in C4. We have found new ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Many have foregone the larger celebrations and have moved to smaller, more moderate engagement with loved ones. As far as our relationship with the church is concerned, many of us have adjusted similarly. Whether it is precaution around the virus, paranoia about how many people could be exposed, comfort with the technological worship options, conflicting work schedules or the myriad of other reasons; we cannot all share physical space with one another. To be sure, our dwelling will not always be physical. Some of us will not be in the same room with some people we once saw regularly until we reach the other side of the Jordan. Our dwelling together in unity suggests a unity of the mind. My brother and I still do not share much space, but we know that regardless of what is going on in our lives, we must work together to accomplish some of the tasks set before us.  

When we are dwelling together in unity, we are not suggesting that we will always agree. It is normal, as any parent would suggest, that siblings will have issues. Or as I heard growing up, even teeth and tongue fall out. But there is a need for a mindset of unity that helps everyone achieve and reach a common goal. That type of unity is what is being lifted in our text. When I read the theme text for this year, there was something important for us to consider about the benefit of dwelling together. The psalmist acknowledged that it is good for this type of unity to happen. Good is something that comes up throughout the creation narrative. Whenever God created something, God would step back, look at it and acknowledge that it was good. Goodness articulates a wholeness or completion to God’s intended goal. This is why God acknowledged that it was not good for man to be alone while in the garden with Adam (Gen 2:18). But the themed text reveals to us that it is good for us to be dwelling together in unity. Which highlights the value that God has on our unity together as people, as church and as community.  

There are so many forces that work together to impose on the people of God being unified, which often can lead to us not being able to share space with one another. But, the work of unity is on us. Let us wrestle together through some questions: How can I help us dwell in unity? What does that look like in this present age? Is my inability to dwell in unity related to some harbored unforgiveness? How can I learn to input love instead of tolerance for those whom I struggle to be unified with? How do I embody patience or longsuffering amid issues caused by others? While I do not have all the answers, I bring us an example in scripture to ponder on.  

All while knowing who Judas would turn out to be, Jesus dwelled in unity with Judas. Judas’s actions would lead Jesus to the cross and cause him to experience the worse type of punishment known to man in that era. This did not cause Jesus to not feed Judas. Jesus still wash Judas’s feet. Jesus still answered Judas’s questions. He did all of this because there was love in his intentions. When we incorporate love as our focus, it makes it easier to dwell in unity. It will not right all the wrongs or abolish all the hurt; but it will let forgiveness reign through the hurt, help us to endure hardship like a good soldier and present ourselves as the living sacrifice of God. Let us spend the time reflecting on how we can best dwell in unity!