The 23rd. Psalm

Last weekend we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus wants us to know him by experiencing his love and so to become good shepherds in turn to those entrusted to our care.

The 23rd Psalm says ‘If I should walk in the valley or darkness no evil would I fear./You are there with your crook and your staff/With these you give me comfort.’’

Here is a powerful expression of strong faith and trust. Sheep country is mountainous territory. If a sheep falls into a fissure between rocks or fails to jump across a ravine the shepherd will use his crook with its hooked head to pull up the fallen sheep. Wild dogs and ravenous wolves prowl in the shadows of the valley. The shepherd’s staff is the sheep’s protection. The good shepherd is prepared not merely to risk danger but even to lay down his life for his sheep. That is an image of the sacrificial love of Jesus for us. No matter how dark the valley, how disturbing the situation or how terrifying the prowling monsters, the true disciple never loses confidence in the love and care guaranteed by Christ, the Faithful Shepherd.

Based on this image of the bishop’s staff I told this joke to bishop Donal at our Confirmation Day dinner recently. A boy returned from his Confirmation. He told his friends ‘Now I know what a crook looks like!’ He too it well!

Story.

Years ago the great actor Richard Burton was given a grand reception in his childhood parish. While replying to the complimentary speeches in the parish auditorium he asked if there was anything, they specially wanted to hear from him. After a minute's pause his old pastor asked him if he could recite this beautiful Good Shepherd Psalm (psalm 23), which he had taught Burton in his Sunday school. A strange look came over the actor's face. He paused for a moment, and then said, "I will, on one condition—that after I have recited it, you, my pastor and teacher will do the same." “I,” said the old, retired pastor, “am not an actor, but, if you wish it, I shall do so.” Impressively the actor began the Psalm. His voice and intonation were perfect. He held his audience spellbound, and, as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from the audience. As it died away, the old pastor rose from his wheelchair and began to recite the same Psalm. His voice was feeble and shivering and his tone was not faultless. But, when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. The actor rose and his voice quivered as he said, '"Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears, but my old pastor has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."

Doubting Thomas

[written two weeks ago after the Gospel of the Sunday]]

Thomas was a doubter, Lord

Often I’m a doubter too

When earnest prayers

Go unheard

I question ’where are you?’

-

Thomas needed to touch your wounds

Before he said he’d believe.

Sometimes my hurt

Can stop me short

From believing your love for me.

-

I can doubt your loving care,

your mercy and your peace.

My trust gets broke,

I lose all hope

and wonder ‘do you exist?’

-

Then I think of all those cursing psalm

prayed by people just like me,

who gave off and frowned ,

and felt let down,

when you seemed to ignore their pleas.

-

You cried, dear Jesus , on that cross

‘Why have you abandoned me?

Quoting the psalms

As your life blood ran

Down the wood that set us free.

-

When doubts back me into a corner

Leaving me lonely, sad and lost

Where can I turn,

but to you so spurned,

forsaken on that cross?

-

Your wounded flesh reminds me, Lord,

Of times I too felt lost and broken.

Wondering do you care ,

when these healing words I hear-

‘’ My Beloved ‘ -your dad has spoken!

-

So just like the sun on a cloudy day,

Plays ‘ hide and seek ‘ with me

I know you’re there

To hear my prayer

Even if you I cannot see.

-

Thomas was a doubter, Lord,

Often I’m a doubter too.

Like him so flawed,

Let ‘my Lord , my God!’

Be my final words to you.

[pokane]

JOKE

When I was a young priest in St Eugene’s Cathedral’ I was teaching the 23rd Psalm [‘the Lord is my Shepherd ‘] to the children. I told them that they were like sheep who needed direction, care and guidance. Then I asked, "If you are the sheep, then who is the shepherd?"—expecting the answer ‘You, Fr Paddy!’. A silence of a few seconds followed. Then a young boy, obviously a budding theologian and future bishop, put his hand up and said, "Jesus- Jesus is the Shepherd." Caught by surprise by his profundity, I said to him, "Well then, in that case who am I?" The boy frowned thoughtfully for a moment and then said, "I guess you must be his sheep dog!" [Sometimes in my not so good days it feels like that!]