he refreshes my soul.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nGod is characterized here as a shepherd. Of course, Jesus revealed Himself to be “The Good Shepherd”:<\/p>\n
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”<\/em> – John 10:11<\/span><\/p>\n“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep”<\/em> – Hebrews 13:20<\/span><\/p>\n“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”<\/em> – 1 Peter 5:4<\/span><\/p>\nThe metaphor of a “shepherd” was quite commonly used by Near Eastern kings.\u00a0In this psalm King David is referring to the Lord as his own Shepherd-King.<\/p>\n
“…he gives me repose”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe flocks lie down and rest safe and secure.<\/p>\n
“…verdant pastures”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nSymbolic of abundance.<\/p>\n
“…beside restful waters he leads me”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nWaters that provide restoration.<\/p>\n
“He guides me in right paths<\/em>\u00a0for his name’s sake.<\/em>\u00a0Even though I walk in the dark valley<\/em>\u00a0I fear no evil; for you are at my side<\/em>\u00a0with your rod and your staff<\/em>\u00a0that give me courage.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe phrase\u00a0“for his name’s sake”<\/em><\/span>\u00a0means that God’s blessings bring honour to His own Name.<\/p>\nA shepherd guides His flock. Sometimes the herd must pass through dangerous territory, but they can trust in the shepherd to keep them from harm.<\/p>\n
“…your rod and your staff…”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nA rod is an instrument of authority. A staff is one of support.<\/p>\n
“You spread the table before me<\/em>\u00a0in the sight of my foes;<\/em>“<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the key verse which links this psalm to the other Readings. King David says that the Lord Himself will prepare a banquet for him, right in front of his enemies!\u00a0The image here is of God the Shepherd King receiving David as a vassal king (like a sub-king) as His table. This is often how covenant-making was concluded in ancient times.<\/p>\n
“…you anoint my head with oil”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nIt was a custom at banquets to have the heads of honoured guests annointed. As Catholics we naturally think of the Sacraments here.<\/p>\n
“…my cup overflows”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe only thing an overflowing cup lacks is greater capacity!<\/p>\n
“Only goodness and kindness follow me<\/em>\u00a0all the days of my life<\/em>“<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThis is quite a bold claim! Goodness and kindness here are personified and described as pursuing David.\u00a0Does this mean that in the life of a Christian everything is always perfect, devoid of stress, illness and suffering? Well, common experience would say “no”. However, the emphasis of this psalm is that, if God is with us, we have everything we truly need.<\/p>\n
David trusts in the Lord.<\/p>\n
“…and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD<\/em>\u00a0for years to come”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nDavid is saying here that he will continue to live and continue to visit the Temple for a long time to come. However, I would suggest that the spiritual meaning of this passage points forward to the true “house of the Lord”<\/span><\/em>, our final destination, Heaven.<\/p>\nReading II: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20<\/h3>\n
Over the last few weeks we have been working our way through the letter to the Philippians. This week is our last excerpt from Paul’s letter and we will begin Thessalonians next Sunday. This concluding section of Philippians expresses very much\u00a0the sentiments as this week’s Psalm, that of complete trust in the Lord.<\/p>\n
Brothers and sisters:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nI know how to live in humble circumstances;<\/span>\u00a0I know also how to live with abundance.<\/span>\u00a0In every circumstance and in all things<\/span><\/em> I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,<\/span>\u00a0of living in abundance and of being in need.<\/span>\u00a0I can do all things in him who strengthens me.<\/span>\u00a0Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nMy God will fully supply whatever you need,<\/span>\u00a0in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.<\/span>\u00a0To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nQuestions:<\/p>\n
\n- What does Paul say is his attitude in relation to lack and abundance?<\/li>\n
- What is the “secret” of which he speaks?<\/li>\n
- With regards to the Philippians, about what is Paul confident?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Commentary:<\/p>\n
“I know how to live in humble circumstances;\u00a0I know also how to live with abundance.\u00a0In every circumstance and in all things\u00a0I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,\u00a0of living in abundance and of being in need”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThis is a mature Christian attitude. Paul does not expect everything to always be rosy (as the last verse of the Psalm kinda suggests). Things are sometimes pleasant and other times less so. Paul says that he’s learnt the secret of dealing with both…<\/p>\n
“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nThis is Paul’s “secret”! The Lord. Paul trusts in Jesus and hopes in the strength that the Lord gives. It is from Christ<\/em> and union with Christ<\/em> that Paul draws both his strength and his joy.<\/p>\n“Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the Philippians heard that Paul was in prison (most likely in Rome), the Philippians had sent him financial assistance, as well as one of their own number (Epaphorditus). Paul thanks them for their loving care (he really loved this church).<\/p>\n
“My God”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThis isn’t to say that there are other true gods or that Paul’s God is different from that of the Philippians. Instead, Paul is just adding a personal description of his relationship with God.<\/p>\n
“My God will fully supply whatever you need,\u00a0in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.\u00a0To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.“<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nPaul has complete confidence that God will provide for the Philippians whatever it is that they need and will reward them for their kindness to him.<\/p>\n
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Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14<\/h3>\n
In recent weeks, Jesus’ parables have berated the Israelite leaders for their lack of belief and shown how this disobedience will result in the incorporation of the Gentiles.<\/p>\n
“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;\u00a0but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” <\/span><\/em>– Romans 2:9<\/span><\/p>\nIn this week’s parable, Jesus starts describing the Kingdom in terms of a banquet, rather using the image of vineyard which we’ve heard most recently. As we saw in Isaiah, this metaphor finds its roots in Old Testament\u00a0literature and, through Jesus, it will also find its place in the New Testament.<\/p>\n
As Catholics, we readily see the banquet as an image of the Eucharistic liturgical celebration. However, this immediate\u00a0fulfillment of the banquet which Jesus describes points to a future eschatological\u00a0fulfillment. The Eucharist points towards the time when we will commune with God and His Saints in Heaven in a great banquet\u00a0for all eternity:<\/p>\n
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.\u00a0And they cried out in a loud voice:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cSalvation belongs to our God,\u00a0who sits on the throne,\u00a0and to the Lamb.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nThen the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'”<\/em> – Revelation 7:9-10, 19:9<\/span><\/p>\nThis week’s Gospel parable neatly encapsulates all of Salvation History. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the banquet is final and everlasting union with God. The prophets invited the Children of Israel to the feast, but instead suffered for their message. For refusing to come to the party, Israel suffered the consequences, being defeated by other nations. Now the Apostles go out and invite all people to come to the table of the Lord…<\/p>\n
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people\u00a0in parables, saying,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king\u00a0who gave a wedding feast for his son.\u00a0He dispatched his servants\u00a0to summon the invited guests to the feast,\u00a0but they refused to come.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nA second time he sent other servants, saying,\u00a0“Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,\u00a0my calves and fattened cattle are killed,\u00a0and everything is ready; come to the feast.”‘<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nSome ignored the invitation and went away,\u00a0one to his farm, another to his business.\u00a0The rest laid hold of his servants,\u00a0mistreated them, and killed them.\u00a0The king was enraged and sent his troops,\u00a0destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
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