Psalm 84:1-4

“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” vs. 3

By the time pilgrims finally arrived in Jerusalem for the great festivals they were thrilled to stand in the temple to make their offerings. Today’s psalmist is reflecting on that worship experience and makes an interesting reference to the sparrows and swallows who were building nests within sight of the altars. We might wonder if this met with the approval of the altar guild but the writer seems to have liked the imagery. For him it’s a reminder that all are welcome in the house of the Lord, even the birds of the air. We might not be so generous about intruders in our worship spaces. Even though we have lots of doves on our paraments we would likely have a huge problem with pigeons perching on our pediments. Still, we would do well to reflect on the psalmist’s sentiments. After all Jesus references birds in his parable of the mustard seed where he makes a point about the kingdom of heaven as a sheltering environment where all are welcome. He might have had this psalm in mind! We do know one of the marks of a healthy congregation is its welcoming atmosphere. We never know who might show up for worship at any given service. What a blessing it is when they feel comfortable enough to build a nest!

Thought for the Day:  Where is your favorite nesting spot?