FROM WOMB TO TOMB
A meditation by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk
Harundale Presbyterian Church
Glen Burnie, Maryland
May 6. 2001
Text: "The Lord is my shepherd." Psalm 23:1
First Reading: Acts 9:36-43
Second Reading: Rev. 7:9-17
It is probably hazardous to preach on one of the most well known scriptures in our tradition, but the opportunity cannot be overlooked simply because of its reputation. Whenever scripture is read it begs to be taken seriously. To take the 23rd Psalm seriously in this case is not to deny that we know it well, but to listen anew to what it may have to say to us. This morning I’ve chosen three points of this psalm to emphasize, some of which may be new thinking for you.
The first part of the psalm is what I call "from womb to tomb." A moment ago we recognized the work of our church school staff, all of those who have spent the last year shepherding our youth. Listen to the first part of the psalm! "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." Those three components constitute a job description for anyone of those people we mentioned. For the past year they have seen that our children’s wants did not go unnoticed. They have sought green pastures for them where they can ask their questions, where learning could occur and where they would feel safe. They’ve led them beside the still waters where they could find refreshment, and hopefully, what they’ve taught them will go a long way to restoring their soul.
I’ve mentioned to you before Mary Ballard and how, in the midst of her Alzheimer’s she’s never forgotten the 23rd Psalm. I make a point at each funeral service I do to have the people say the 23rd Psalm with me. Each time it has a way of restoring our souls. In spite of Mary’s confusion and her inability at this stage of her life to put a coherent sentence together, she could still recite almost every word of the psalm. For just a moment it restored to her a sense of dignity. It triggered some brain cells that refuse to be damaged or calcified and it lets her visit for a brief moment those days in her Sunday school class when she was called to the front by her teacher to recite her memory verse for the day. From the "womb to the tomb" the psalm has a way of restoring our souls.
The second portion is what I call "the comfort zone." "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." Some of you may be familiar with the phrase "s/he’s in the zone." It’s used most often watching Tiger Woods play golf. The commentator will mention that he’s in the zone. What it means is that he’s focussed. He knows what he has to do. Nothing can phase him or distract him. Not long ago he was leading in one of the tournaments he’s won lately, but only by one stroke. He was on the sixteenth tee and about to drive the ball when someone took a flash picture of him. Of course, that’s strictly forbidden and Tiger reminded the person of that, but the commentators worried if that would shatter his concentration. Well, it didn’t and he went on to win the tournament.
That zone is what the psalmist wants us to remember, that wherever we are in a particular period of our lives, whatever is happening to us, regardless of how much "hell" we seem to be going through, God will be there. God has already made our lives "right" in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already provided us a way out of the darkest valleys we may have to walk through. The other day someone wore a shirt that said, "when God closes a door, God opens a window." During these past days, it’s been nice to have the windows open. Amid the heat of spring an open window provides some comfort. The psalm provides us with a "comfort zone."
The third part of the psalm is what I call "the sacramental shield." "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my 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 shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." We remind ourselves each time we baptize someone how "when we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. So that, as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God we, too, might walk in newness of life. For we know that if we have been buried with him in a death like his, we will certainly be raised with him in a resurrection like his." We also, reaffirm each communion how "they will come from east and west, north and south and sit at table with the risen Christ." From baptism to the table, that’s our sacramental shield. We can truthfully confess with the psalmist, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
The other day when Paula Forst received the private school "Teacher of the Year Award" she made an interesting point. "In spite of all that is written about today’s teen-agers, I find nothing but optimism in my hope for our country’s future. There are so many fine young people who are struggling with societal changes and family dysfunction, who come to class eager to learn and desperate for a means of meaningful communication. Families don’t talk; they don’t even eat together, so where is the teen-ager going to find an adult who is willing to listen? In my class they do!"
That’s what we celebrate this morning, those who have committed themselves to listen from the womb to the tomb, to provide that comfort zone and to wear proudly the sacramental shield given to us in the risen Christ by a gracious God.
Thanks be to God,
Amen