Psalm 134
Years ago, in an old stoddy community, a new doctor came to town. It was said he could cure anything and anybody, and everyone was amazed with what he could do - everyone except for Mr. Sweeny, the town skeptic.
Well, old Mr. Sweeny went to this ’miracle doctor’ to prove that he wasn’t anybody special. He went and told the doctor, "Hey, doc, I have lost my sense of taste. I can’t taste nothin’, can you help me?"
The doctor scratched his head and mumbled to himself a little, then told Mr. Sweeny, "What you need is jar number 47.
The doctor turned to his shelf of medicines and took down a jar and told Mr. Sweeny to put some of it in his mouth. Immediately, Sweeny spit it out, "This is gross!" he yelled.
"Well, Mr. Sweeny”, said the doctor, “ I believe I’ve just restored your sense of taste."
Angrily, Mr. Sweeny went home and fumed about his failure. But, one month later, he believed he had a solution to his problem, and went back to the doctor. "Doc,” he said “I’ve been having problems with my memory. I can’t seem to remember anything anymore!"
Now, Mr. Sweeny was very pleased with himself because he just knew he had finally stumped this new doctor and he waited as the doctor scratched his head, mumbled to himself a little. Finally, the doctor went over to the shelf with his medicines on it and said aloud “Well, Mr. Sweeny, I believe what you need is jar number 47..."
When the doctor turned around, Mr. Sweeny had run out of the office… (pause for effect)
He remembered.
Taste may be the sense that has the most powerful ability to summon memory. The taste of the cardamom in the holiday bread brings you right back to your grandmother's house in brooklyn. The taste of lipstick brings you right back to the kiss at the altar on your wedding day. The taste of fresh orange juice brings you back to that perfect week you shared in Florida. The taste salt water brings you right back to youngers days of riding the waves off of Pt. Pleasant or Seaside.
The Psalmist must have understood this connection between taste and memories, because what he means for us to do is to summon the memory of the goodness of God. The scripture does not say that life is always good. It does say that God is always good and during times of when life is not good we need to summon the memories of how God has been good so we can take refuge in Him. The writer says remember the taste of God's goodness. Taste His goodness displayed in a neighbor who showed up at just the right moment when I felt so alone. Taste God's goodness found in strangers, now friends, who came to the house to give care when I could not longer do it on my own. Taste God's goodness found in a few more hours or days or months given to say important words or spend quiet moments. Taste God's goodness found in the loving support of family, friends and community. My prayer for us all today is that as we remember our loved ones who have passed away, God will also summon to our memories even just one remembrance, so that even though we have been through painful days--we can taste and see that the Lord is good.
