Hard of Hearing

A Reflection on the Psalm for October 11th, 2020:
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 23

R. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. 

R. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me. 

R. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

R. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. 

R. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

I have difficulty hearing. When God speaks to me, He has to repeat Himself multiple times.


In the time I’ve been a writer with the Ora group, I have been scheduled to reflect on Psalm 23 three, maybe four, times — and I’m beginning to realize this is not a coincidence. God is trying to tell me something — very likely some things — and I’ve finally started to listen.


I love to reflect on Psalm 23. It comforts me to know that the Lord is my shepherd.


There was a time when I thought I ought to be my own shepherd.


I was born into a working class family but I knew I would grow up to be a professional — maybe a lawyer, and that is, in fact, what I did. As a kid, I didn’t know any lawyers to help steer me toward that path, so I forged ahead on my own, studying hard and asking for directions. I was single-minded and “going places.”


Along the way, I became my own shepherd — but I was not a very good one. I had little compassion for myself as a sheep. I drove myself until I was exhausted. I made myself work when I was unwell. I was impatient with myself when I got lost. Although I thought I was shaping myself into a self-sufficient sheep, I was actually hardening my heart as a shepherd.


Have you ever had that experience?


When I realized God is speaking to me through Psalm 23 and that I should be listening, I started reading up on shepherding (which confirmed my suspicion that I was not any good at it). Here’s what I learned from the writings of modern-day shepherds all over the world.


Good shepherds have a gentle touch and warm demeanour. They closely monitor the health of their sheep, protect them from predators, and provide good grazing. They are patient, humble, and solicitous.


The Lord, in asking me to listen to Psalm 23, is saying that He is my shepherd. Therefore, I will never want for anything. He will carve out in my life times to rest my body and my spirit in places of great beauty. I will not need to forge a path through the unknown, for He will lead me in a better path of His making; and His rod and staff keep away the predators. He will provide me with good food and heal me with the oil of His mercy. I will have more than enough good things and His favour will rest on me, not only in eternity but all the days of my life.


Lord God, you opened my ears and, at long last, I am listening.




Donna Davis

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