This morning as I sat in my home reading our lesson for today, in spirit I was with the pilgrims two thousand and three thousand years ago, making my way up to Jerusalem. That is our privilege as we sing in our hearts the "Songs of Ascent" (Psalm 120-134). 

The Song of Ascents is a group of 15 psalms likely assembled for liturgical or worship purposes. In ancient Israel and to this day you “go up” or "ascend" to Jerusalem because Jerusalem is on the central mountain ridge. It is likely the pilgrims sang these psalms as they were “going up” to worship at the temple for the three annual festivals: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
 
There are frequent references in these psalms to Jerusalem or Zion. Zion was the name for the hill upon which the original city was built and is used interchangeably with Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, God’s people often used the terms Jerusalem and Zion like we use the term church. “Let’s go up to Jerusalem!” was equivalent to our “Let’s go to church!”  
 
At the center of these “Songs of Ascent” is a celebration of the Family Church (Psalm 127-128). As we pray for the peace of the New Testament Jerusalem (God's Church), let us pray especially for the Family Church. May fathers and mothers accept their roles as spiritual shepherds of their children and bring blessing to them and to generations to follow.

I have included all the Songs of Ascent (Psalm 120-134) in our reading today because of how they end. Pray for unity within our families and in our churches (Psalm 133). Pray for unity as laity and clergy worship together (Psalm 134). 

Pilgrims speaking to priests (Laity speaking to clergy)

 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD
    who minister by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
    and praise the LORD (Psalm 134:1-2).

Priests speaking to pilgrims (clergy speaking to laity)

May the LORD bless you from Zion,
    he who is the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 134:3). 

Division in God’s Church – A Threat to Peace
 
In our New Testament lesson (read 1 Corinthians 4 here), Paul continues to deal with the division present in the church at Corinth. He and Apollos are simply the Lord's servants. What is important is not how many people like one over the other. What is important is that each is faithful to the Lord so that God's Church is blessed by their ministry. 

May the Lord of the Church work powerfully in each of us that we may be faithful stewards or managers of the mysteries of our God... sharing law and gospel faithfully to our family, our fellow Christians, and to the world.