Our Shepherd

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. - 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.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. - 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.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. - You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. - 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.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

This 23rd Psalm is today’s responsorial psalm.  We all walk in dark valleys, some of our own making.  Still, we are to fear no evil.  If only we could.  We fear the dark and the evil we know lives within it.  Darkness is another name for hypocrisy and dishonesty both shadowing the light we all carry within us.

Courage comes from the Lord, our shepherd.  It takes courage to be good and kind especially when those around us are foes, and we are in their sight.

The Lord is our shepherd; there is something we shall want.  That something is his rod and staff.  They will give us courage and a way to beat off the devil and the evil Satan promotes to plow under our verdant pastures.

Deacon David Pierce