Day 14: Psalm 133

The goal of the journey is now at hand! In Psalm 133, the psalmist relates the effects of the blessing: unity bestows profound blessings! Through the use of vivid images that were familiar to those who made the pilgrimage, the psalmist shows forth the superabundance of the blessing of the Lord.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Unity is one of the powerful images that strikes the psalmist. Upon considering all of the gathered in the Temple: people, priests, Levites – how good it is to see them all together in unity! That unity also extends to the family, community, work, neighborhood, and Church. Notice that special attention in the Psalms of Ascent is given to the family as we have seen in Psalms 122, 127, 128, and 131. 

The psalmist uses two images that are meant to show forth the overflow or superabundance of the blessing that flows from unity: oil and dew. Oil is important for use in many things from cooking, eating, and lighting (oil lamps in biblical times) in the home, to sacred rites: anointing kings, priests, and sacred objects, and healings (anointing the sick or wounded). The image of oil running down the beard of Aaron relates to one of these important sacred uses. Notice that it flows down the head and beard of Aaron all the way to the collar of his robes! Not a sparse use there! Rather it speaks of a superabundance to have it flow like that!

The dew is another interesting image that also speaks of an abundance. Mt. Herman was located in the north part of Israel, while Mt. Zion was to the south. Mt Herman was over nine thousand feet high! Its snowcapped peaks would be present even in the summer. Due to its height and the precipitation it receive, it stayed very fertile even during the dry summer months. Thus, the dew or meltwater that flowed from it would make Mt. Zion as fertile in the mind of the psalmist. Again, there is a superabundance flowing here too! 

Unity provides joy and blessing. The blessings of unity then flow forth in a superabundant way: love, protection, and compassion. From this comes comfort and peace. It is this blessing of unity that Jesus prays for at the Last Supper and St. Paul prays that the Corinthians will attain. 

For the pilgrim, this is the blessing that is the desired goal! The divine blessing is received in the temple through the mediation of the priests, and the temple yields the fruitfulness of the earth and of life (Navarre Bible). The pilgrim experiences the joy of unity among the chosen people gathered there in the Temple. It is the joy of a superabundant blessing that flows from the unity experience in the Temple that is carried over into family and beyond! 

Pray Psalm 133 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How does the psalmist experience the superabundant blessing of the Lord?

How do we experience the joy of “Blessing” that in the Mass?

Pray also with the Catechism 1080-1082 and discover more about the blessing received in the Liturgy of the Church – (remember to that Liturgy is the Mass, the Sacraments, and the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours).

What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!