Psalm 23: 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 (Read)
“You anoint my head with oil."
Just as David was anointed by Samuel,
so too we are chosen by the Lord to be
His servants and to do His work.
Our own family members may scoff at this,
and we may think we are least likely to succeed
as a servant of God. But the Lord anoints ordinary
people to do extraordinary things. The weak
are chosen to shame the strong.
Where does the power come from to do the
Lord's work? Like David, we are anointed
with oil by the Lord, and we make a covenant
with Him. Our trust in the Lord is rewarded.
We must do as David did and open our hearts
to receive the Holy Spirit. St Paul says it another
way in this Sunday's 2nd reading – “Awake O' sleeper,
and Christ will give you light.”
Sunday's Gospel shows us that Jesus came to cure
our spiritual blindness. We lack nothing when we
trust in the Lord. We fear nothing, even when our
lives are at a low point spiritually or physically.
Our eyes are opened by our trust in the Lord;
we are led out of the dark valley of sin and sloth.
Our response, as the psalmist says, is to let the Lord
lead us, to listen to Him, and to take courage from Him.
God sends His Son to save us and His Spirit to live
within us. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow us
all the days of our life, and we shall dwell in the house
of the Lord forever.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says that the Lord guides us in right paths
for His name's sake. Do you feel chosen to do God's will?
If so, how are you overcoming any obstacles to make it happen?
2. The Psalm's verses affirm, 'The Lord is at my side,
with His rod and His staff that give me courage.' Are you
empowered to serve God and live out the Gospel? Give an example.
"The Lord anoints ordinary people to do extraordinary things." "Jesus came to cure our spiritual blindness." "We lack nothing when we trust in the Lord." Powerful statements!!! On Monday, the Interfaith Board had final interviews with the top 3 candidates for the CEO position. Pray for us, that we make the right choice. It will impact a lot of people, especially God's chosen......the most needy in North County, San Diego.
ReplyDeleteEven an ordinary person like me could do extraordinary things in case I am anointed by God. Our trust in the Lord is a crucial thing to do His work as His servants. Jesus as our Shepherd knows where the green pastures and still waters are for us, if we just let Him lead us along His way.
ReplyDeleteBy listening to His voice and following Him obediently we could go through the valley of death with Him. We could overcome any pain, sickness or suffering which our enemy brings against us, by trusting our Lord's mercy and love and protection for us. Because His spirit lives within us.
Since we are anointed with oil by God as David was, we could serve the Lord by living out the Gospel as well. Sometimes I was reluctant to do God's work and refused to serve Him, and I went on my own way. But by His rod and His staff I was redirected to His right way. He is my only hope for eternal life.