PSALM 23

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a day we remember in a special way those who shepherd the Church, and also point to them the one true shepherd, Jesus Christ who they must imitate. And having been called to prolong and act on behalf of Christ in the world, it becomes their vocation. And so, today is also called Vocations Sunday. Therefore we must today pray for vocations to the priestly and religious life. But this work and message of shepherding must be extended to those who shepherd our world in various ways, Countries, States, companies, institutions, families, etc.

In a society filled with poverty and strife, there comes a message of hope, provision and abundance. In an era controlled by war and insecurity, there comes a message of protection and peace. In an age that disregards life through series of anti-life policies, there comes a message of the sacred of human life. In an epoch that is tormented by killer-diseases, there comes a message of healing. In a time when the world pursues satisfaction more than anything else, there comes a message of sanctification. In a world filled with authoritarianism and power cleavage, there comes a message of admonition. In a period when justice is left in the whims and caprices of corrupt leaders, there comes a message of vindication. In a moment where humans place more value in life here on earth, there comes a message of eternal life. And in a globe that has the population of 7.5 billion people, and yet no one seems to offer the world perfect leadership, there comes the unequivocated proclamation: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. This is the central theme of Psalm 23 which has guided my reflection today.

Psalm 23 is one that demonstrates the palpable actions of God as a good shepherd. It is a psalm that is the most known for anyone who is acquainted with the book of Psalms. It is a song of trust and is specifically regarded as the psalm of David. David passed through a lot in his life, the peak of which before he became King was the threat in his life by Saul. And in fact, this threat forms the foundation of this psalm. David overcame these threats by trusting in the Lord who is the good shepherd (a common designation for the god or king in Ancient Near Eastern poetry). The psalm focuses on God as the faithful and good shepherd of his people who are his flock. We have extracted for the purpose of this reflection 7 characteristics from the Psalm which creates the assurance within us that God is our Shepherd. A shepherd is a guide and a leader of his people. God is the shepherd of Israel; he who leads Joseph’s flock (Ps. 80:1). The Lord keeps us as a shepherd keeps his flock (cf. Jer. 31:10). The shepherd is our owner. The term means that he owns us.

1. PROVISION: I shall not want; He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters (cf. Vv.1-2).  This psalm proves to us that we as the flock of our good shepherd really lack nothing. He provides everything we need. Another translation would say:  I have everything I need. His provision is perfect, full and gracious; not hard-hazard. From these verses, we understand that David says that a good shepherd leads his flock to green pastures (not dry leaves) and quiet waters (not turbulent waters). The shepherd recognizes what the flock wants. This is what God does for us. Many of us have deep troubles with our present economic, academic, and spiritual situations; we seek jobs and admissions. But one thing we must know is that God’s provision is perfect. When he wanted to save man, he gave us the best.  He did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for all of us; will he not then graciously give us all things? (cf. Rom. 8:32). But do you know why we shall not want? It is because we seek the face of God; we follow our good shepherd. Psalms 34:10 makes us to understand that those who seek the Lord lack no good thing, even when young lions suffer want and hunger. And in Matthew 6:33, we are advised to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and every other thing will be added unto us.

2. SANCTIFICATION: He restores (revives) my soul; he leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake (vv.3-4). God does not stop only in providing for our material needs, he also cares for our souls. For the sheep, the green pasture and the still water revive and strengthen it for vitality. And so, God revives the longing of our souls to see Him. God makes our souls active to be receptive of his grace. Many of us have issues and experiences that make us to think that our souls are dead. But do you not know that you have a good shepherd who can restore your soul to how it should be? When we feel distanced from God, He is ever ready to revive us. Psalm 19:7 states that the law of the Lord is perfect, and that it revives the soul. And being sure that the Lord can lead him out of sin, the Psalmist prays in 5:8 that the Lord should lead him in His righteousness. It is the Lord who assures us himself in Prov. 4:11 that he leads us in the way of uprightness. We must then approach the divine throne of renewal and revival for the vitality that our souls seek.

3. PROTECTION: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me (v. 4). God can never be tired of protecting us. The shepherd wards off all preys that come to destroy the flock. He leads and protects the sheep so that they will not suffer any injury. Thus, when the sheep looks at the shepherds tools of war against the prey, it is comforted. It has back-up. So God wages war against any reality that wants to pull us down. He does not allow us to stumble. Many times, we claim to have God and yet we are afraid of evil or harm. Many times, we fail to recognize the power of Jesus in the blessed Eucharist, and prefer to run to places that do not protect. Even when God presents Himself as a powerful Saviour for us, we tend not to be courageous. We must totally abandon ourselves to the protective hand of God. Psalm 78:52 makes us aware that God leads us out like sheep and guides us in the wilderness like a flock. In Isaiah 40:11, the Lord tends his flocks like a shepherd, and gathers the lambs in his arms; he carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those who are with young. The Lord keeps us as a shepherd keeps his flock (Jer. 31:10). There is no place or time that escapes the protection of God. In Psalm 139:9-10, if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.

4. VINDICATION: You prepare a banquet for me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). Why must this banquet be prepared in the presence of the enemy? Remember that the role of the enemy is to mock us, ridicule us and pull us down, but God having rendered powerless our enemies desires to shame them the more by making them the divine favours and blessings in our lives. Many times, when we suffer from injustice, calumny, hatred because of the virtues that we hold, we must remember that God does vindicate. To vindicate is to declare innocent for an offence held against us in the past for which we are innocent. God needs the enemy to know that we are innocent, and so he or she must be present when this innocence is declared. If the son of man sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36).

5. HEALING: You anoint my head with oil (v. 5bi). This is the oil of healing and of forgiveness. It connects with the sanctification of our souls. However, it differs from sanctification in the sense it is done for constant lubrication as against spiritual aridity. The jar of oil can never run dry. When we see ourselves running into the same type of sin over and over again, just be aware that your head has been anointed with the oil of healing and of forgiveness which qualifies you to ask for pardon and never to go back to that sin again. The Second Reading (1 Pet 2: 20b-25) clarifies us that Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, we have been healed, and have now returned to the Shepherd. This oil is the unction for our function as Christians. When this oil touches you, you are gladdened. Psalm 45:7 says that the Lord our God anoints us with the oil of gladness beyond our companions.

6. ABUNDANCE: My cup overflows (v. 5bii). This is not that our cups are full, but that the cups are overflowing. They are overflowing because the content of the cup is now in excess. God’s blessing comes in form of a crush. Ochi agaghi ekwe gi funwuo oku. That same abundance experienced in the population of the followers of Jesus in the First Reading (Acts 2:14a.36-41). There was abundance in their number which grew to 3000. Every one desires abundance. God gave the Israelites bread from heaven in abundance (cf. Psalm 105:40). When you have suffered and you perceive some smells of success, just girdle up and be ready for your abundance is close. God believes in blessing us abundantly. After the feeding of the 5000 and 4000, many baskets were left. This is because there was abundance. He gives us life abundantly (John 10:10)

7. ETERNAL LIFE: Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever and ever (v. 6). In the end, what we all desire is the eternal life which is given us out of God’s goodness and mercy. The Chief shepherd carters for us both for life here on earth and life hereafter. He follows us and leads us to eternal happiness in heaven. This is one thing we ask of the Lord; to dwell in His house forever (Ps. 27:4). When we ask for this, God gives it to us (cf. Ps. 21:4). It is because of this eternal life that Peter admonishes the people to repent and be baptized. Jesus who is the chief Shepherd in the Gospel (John 10:1-10) also assures us that he comes that we may have life and have it abundantly.

In all, as we celebrate Vocations Sunday today, we pray God to help the Church produce more shepherds who will simply be like Christ the good Shepherd. As we also celebrate the father’s day, we pray too that the fathers may extract these virtues of the good shepherd and apply them in their homes and in their working places. I wish all of us a blessed week ahead. God bless you.

CAVEAT: The Church through the authority of her master, the good shepherd continues to nourish us with the 7 sacraments, which in my reflection covers these 7 features of the Shepherd. He sanctifies our souls in Baptism, provides for us in Holy Communion, protects us in Confirmation, heals us in Penance, vindicates us in Anointing of the sick, gives us the grace of abundance in Matrimony, and assures our eternity in Holy Orders through which we get those who dispense these sacraments for our salvation. This will be a thought for future development.