We Belong

A Reflection on the Psalm for May 12th, 2019:
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Psalm 100

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. 

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

R. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

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“It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture…”

This line of this week’s  psalm really resonated in my heart. It could be because I am helping to organize the 2019 Steubenville Atlantic Youth Conference, and the theme this year is “Belong”.

What does it mean to belong to God? Based on the English definition of the word, to “belong” can mean to “go along with” or “properly relate to”. The psalmist’s analogy, of God as the shepherd and us as His sheep, calls to mind beautiful imagery when we consider these meanings.

In Lectio, I imagine myself as a sheep, one among many who move alongside the Shepherd. We recognize His scent, and our scent rubs off on Him. Sometimes He reaches out to touch our soft, messy wool and He looks in our eyes… and we know He knows us. Even though another might come along and perceive no distinguishing qualities among us. I know that He recognizes me, and that He notices when I’ve strayed.

"I know that He recognizes me, and that He notices when I’ve strayed." 

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When our relationship is broken, when I’m really far away, He runs after me. He isn’t surprised by my foolish actions, because I am a simple, little sheep who is still learning and growing (not always all too bright). When I’m injured, He lifts me onto His shoulders and I’m closer to Him then ever before. When my coat gets too heavy, He shears me and lightens my burden. He protects me from wolves, and He carries me across rivers so I can graze on fresh pastures on the other side. There is a relationship of accompaniment, trust, gratitude, surrender, and sacrifice.

As 'ones who belong to God’, we are invited into a relationship of mutual self-gift. It may seem like, as stinky ol’ sheep, we don’t have much to give. But simply choosing to be His is the gift He wants from us, first and foremost. He longs for our free decision to follow Him wherever He leads us, to relate and respond to Him, and to trust Him when life gets dangerous.

Take a few moments, in silence, with this psalm and let the Spirit paint a picture in your mind of how you relate to your shepherd. Recognize who He is and who you are in Him, and ask Him where He wants you to go along with Him.

​Kendra Chisholm

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