Sheep and shepherds pop up throughout the readings today. In the first reading from Hebrews13 the author prays, “May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.” And in the Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus sees a vast crowd gathered to hear Him, and “His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
Today’s Responsorial Psalm ties it all together. It is Psalm 23. This may well be the most familiar of the Psalms. So let’s take a moment to read and meditate on it today.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
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