Loree and the Good 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 the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the 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 for ever.
Psalm 23 is perhaps the best known and well loved psalm. It is often said or sung when we gather for a funeral or memorial service, but Psalm 23 is a short piece of scripture that one could meditate on for a long time.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want - I shall not want. While some take this as a promise that they will not lack for anything, we know that many lack food, clean water, shelter, safety, love, or companionship. I wonder what God would show us if we spent a day simply meditating on "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." How do those on the margins of society, many of whom love this psalm as much as anyone, interpret this phrase? How are we called to strive toward a day when none shall lack anything?
Tomorrow is Good Shepherd Sunday, and we will hear Psalm 23 sung by the choir in an archival recording. How does Jesus, our Good Shepherd, meet the needs of those who are hungry, poor, broken? Another good meditation for today. In preparation for Sunday, the SSS today is Steve and I singing Tom Booth's "I Shall Not Want." copyright Oregon Catholic Press.
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