No More Masks

​A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, July 21, 2024:
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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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.

Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” includes some of the most evocative and comforting verses in Scripture. I never tire of rolling its phrases over in my mind and, despite the many occasions I’ve had to reflect on it, it never fails to reveal to me new and rich insights into the metaphor of Christ as shepherd and me as sheep.

Now, I’m a city girl. I’ve never owned livestock, much less been a shepherd. In fact, I’ve petted a sheep only once in my life, and I can say with confidence that the experience cured me of ever wanting to stick my hand into another matted, greasy, wiry fleece again. Nevertheless, the promise of Psalm 23 has so attracted me that I have gone on to read about shepherding and the hard work and dedication demanded of good shepherds in caring for a flock. This subject was sufficiently interesting to move me on to reading about sheep, which has allowed me to discover many interesting things about these animals, one of which I’d like to share with you.

It is this: because they are prey animals, sheep have evolved in such a way that they no longer display easily recognizable signs of pain or suffering in the presence of a predator. In consequence, unless a person knows what to look for, it may be difficult to recognize when a sheep is in pain. Studies tell us that it’s unclear how sheep are able to mask their suffering — whether the stress of pain releases in the body a chemical that acts as a mild anesthetic or whether sheep have learned to look tough in the presence of a predator. What does seem clear is that an important factor in the easier detection of pain in sheep is the presence of a trusted caregiver. 

Imagine, as Psalm 23 does, that you are a sheep among many sheep. You sense the presence of a predator — something that threatens to bring you down. You know you are vulnerable, and that frightens you. Do you attempt to mask your vulnerability to this threat, or do you turn to the Shepherd, your trusted caregiver before whom you can let down your guard so that your distress can be recognized by the God who loves you, who desires only to heal your pain and make you whole?

Lord, help us to trust in Your constant love for us. Give us faith to follow where You lead us, in right paths, through the darkest valley where we fear no predators, and to Your house where there will be no more masks and no more pain and where we will live under Your loving care forever and ever. Amen!


​
Donna Davis

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