Psalm 23

The Lord is My Shepherd. I will lack nothing.
He binds me in green pastures.
He leads me besides clear waters.
He restores my soul.
He will guide me through paths of justice for his name’s sake.
Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.
because you are with me
Your rod and your staff comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Certainly good and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
And in the house of the Lord I will dwell forever.

As I have passed my 85th birthday, this Psalm has a particular meaning for me.

But it must have important meaning for everyone because it is a powerful message of God’s love for us.
For those who don’t know, it was written thousands of years ago by King David, who had once been a shepherd. Throughout those years, it has been a source of healing and comfort to many.

I remember a time when I was traveling in Morocco as a tourist. We were on a bus and the tour guide pointed out a lone shepherd standing on a hill tending only one sheep. My faith tells me that if I were the only person who ever lived, God loves me so much that he would sacrifice his Son for me. That is why this Psalm comforts me in the shadow of my life.

I would like to share it with you by giving you my interpretation of its meaning.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD:
A shepherd’s job is to loyally care for his sheep and protect them from all predators. He is with them 24/7 in all types of weather and conditions. The sheep are defenseless and would not survive without his constant care. If a sheep strays, the shepherd searches for it and brings it back to a safe place. That’s how God is with us.

I WILL MISS NOTHING:
What it means to me is that if I put my trust in my Shepherd I will have everything I need. Perhaps not all the material things that we find so important these days, but everything that is necessary to sustain me physically and spiritually.

IN GREEN PASTURES HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN:
The sheep need the green pastures to survive. The shepherd leads them to his livelihood and there he keeps them. Then God will provide us with the food we need. This is spiritual food as well as real food. He tells us…”When you eat of this bread…”

It also makes us realize the importance of rest by putting aside our daily tasks and finding time to be with Him in prayer.

HE GUIDED ME NEXT TO THE CLEAR WATERS;
We need water to survive physically but also with the healing water of baptism. Keep in mind that it is clear water that cleanses us and calm water that brings us peace. Without His water our lives would be barren.

HE RESTORE MY SOUL:
Our God is a loving Father who is patient and forgiving and always ready and willing to bring us back into His fold. No matter how sinful we have been, if we just say we’re sorry, his arms are wide open. He does not condemn us, we condemn ourselves when we turn our backs on him.

HE WILL GUIDE ME THROUGH PATHS OF JUSTICE BY HIS TOUCH:
God’s word and lessons are everywhere. We have the Ten Commandments, the Scriptures, the Psalms, and pastoral clergy.

In the Act of Contrition we say: “Oh, my God, I am sorry for having offended you… I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins to do penance and amend my life…” the intention to change is not it’s fair. It’s okay to repent, but we must honestly make the effort to change.

EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, BECAUSE YOU ARE WITH ME:
How well known is this phrase? It is prayed at funerals and when a person is near death. It is said that there are no atheists in the trenches. Death is something we all have to face. I see it as a great adventure. We should all contemplate death so that when it comes to us, we do not have fear and the faith that our Shepherd awaits us with his Love.

Thy rod and thy staff comfort me:
I firmly believe that there are demons in the world whose purpose is to destroy us. And our lives are a constant battle with the forces of evil. The shepherd’s rod and staff not only guide the sheep, but are weapons against these predators. It comforts me to know that my God and Shepherd uses his rod and staff to goad me when I need to goad and protect me when I am weak.

YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES:
Again we are surrounded by enemies who seek to destroy us and yet in the midst of all this evil we are wounded and comforted in the presence of God. And we eat and drink of his generous love for us.

ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL:
Anointing the head with oil was a practice in Biblical days used to honor and dignify a person. Oil was a very expensive and scarce commodity. This anointing shows the love and respect that God has for us. Even today, the oil is used sacramentally. We are special in his eyes. Every single one of us.

MY CUP IS OVERFLOWED:
Our Shepherd gives us more than we need. We are so blessed! I have written before that it is important for us to count or blessings. We must never take for granted all the gifts we have been given.

SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE:
No matter how hard we have tried to be good and follow God’s wishes, unfortunately we are all sinners. So we are always in need of the mercy of our Shepherd. And fortunately, although in our weakness we sometimes flee from his mercy, he follows us loyally and relentlessly. There’s a poem I like called “The Hound of Heaven.” The poet in cadence and words describes how God constantly and persistently pursues us to redeem us.

IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD DWELL FOREVER:
That should be our goal. That one day we will be in the Heavenly House of our Shepherd where we will live in peace and eternal happiness.

May Almighty God bless and shepherd you always.

By Carlos Mondello