 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Christ: September 11, 2001 | Christ Descended
A Psalm of David
Davidic, Thanksgiving, Liturgy
The Shepherd Psalm 23
THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in 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.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine 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 will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.Comments:
Loyalty and devotion of the Shepherd - first supplies the sheep with more than everything it needs. In quietness and peace, the sheep are refreshed and revived. He leads me (Isaiah 49:10) (Luke 15:1-7). He keeps sheep from straying on the wrong path (Isaiah 30:21). For His namesake - the Good Shepherd will not be false to Himself. In the midst of danger the Shepherd banishes fear (fear the way we die). I walk... hard going and drudgery in this life - this shadowy valley. I dwell... if it pleases God, in good time, I will dwell with you forever. The Good Shepherd has brought His flock home, (temple?) to a table at journey's end. The Good Shepherd is saying in effect - this man is my friend and will banquet and dwell with me forever - the evildoers will remain outside the gate. The sheep is under the protection of the Divine Host. God cares and tenderly gives more of Himself... he annoints with oil... is loving. (sometimes shepherds rubbed healing oils into the fleece of sheep at journeys end) There is no lack of good things... my cup runneth over. The past is a prophesy of the future... he shall continue as guest in the house of the Lord forever. The Good Shepherd has guided the sheep on paths that lead right to the source of life, peace, and happiness, and keep it from straying into wrong paths (John 10:4).
Spiritualize the material world - rod and staff:
Staff - gentle disciplines that keep us going on the right path (John 14:6).
Rod - aggressively reject evil from our minds and hearts as we answered at the Sacrament of Baptism...
Do you reject Satan? Answer: We do.
Christ: September 11, 2001 | Christ Descended