How Like Sheep

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, November 26th, 2023:
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

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Psalm 23

R. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..

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

R. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Have you ever driven past a field of sheep on a spring day and wondered in how many ways we humans are similar to sheep? Not very likely! But, if you look “under the hood,” the parallels are endless. There are three specifically that are worth highlighting.
 
First, without someone in charge, sheep will wander aimlessly. We, too, look for someone or, more often than not, something to lead us along in life, often without too much thought on whether that direction is wise or in our best interest.
 
Second, if the weight of their fleece is too heavy, sheep often tip over onto their backs and will stay there until they are set back on their feet or die trying. I really like the symbolism here – for how often are we “weighed down” by things on our backs so that we wallow and wait for someone to save us and set us on our feet? Or, conversely, how often do we keep trying to rise out of a difficult situation by our own devices because we’re unwilling to admit that we are in a bind and, in our pride, we keep trying to solve the challenges in life without guidance from our brothers and sisters in Christ?
 
Third, like sheep we are not designed to carry loads on our backs, although we often take on the entire “load of life” on our shoulders alone.
 
The truth is, if Jesus truly is our Shepherd, then that makes us His sheep. While sheep may not be the brightest animals in the barn, they are unfailingly loyal and attentive to someone whom they trust. They listen to their shepherd, and they know his voice.
 
This Sunday we pray the most familiar of all the psalms, Psalm 23, The Lord Is My Shepherd. It reminds us that we are called to be part of the flock that relies on Jesus.
 
Trust Him. Listen to Him. Spend time with Him. Humbly follow Him. Jesus is now, and will forever be, the ultimate Shepherd. If we follow Him, we will never be led astray.


​Originally posted on April 26th, 2023, by Patty Viscount

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