Our reading from Hebrews teaches us to love and praise God, do good, share, and obey. Sound simple? It may be more complex! Loving and praising God while conducting our daily lives filled with family and work obligations means we need to invite God into everything we say and do to make our lives worthy of becoming our prayer. Doing good and sharing may not be easy when we hear God asking us to give and share when it hurts, not just give leftovers.

Again, this may be our precious time! Obedience can also be a challenge if we don’t always agree with authority. We tell our children to obey, and we must also follow rules we may not agree with. However, let’s remember that those with authority are also accountable to the Lord.

Our Psalm is a very much beloved and very often prayed expression of our faith. Our Lord, our Shepherd, granting us peace in all its perfection. Can we imagine what perfect peace feels like? The psalm provides a visual of verdant pastures and restful waters, invoking the sensation of perfect peace. The true Shepherd guides us in a righteous path regardless of what darkness may lie before us.

How can we be fearful when the Lord is at our side, providing us with the protection and courage to go forth? Our shepherd offers us perfect goodness and kindness in the house of the Lord, which will be our dwelling place. No wonder this psalm is a focal prayer when we are called to our eternal home.

Mark’s Gospel recounts Jesus feeling pity for the crowds who searched ‘like sheep without a shepherd’ and for his apostles who suffered exhaustion in their long journey.

Our Shepherd is calling us today. How will we answer him?

Prayer:

Dear God, our loving Shepherd, thank you for the blessings of your love, the gift of faith, and for granting me the chance to live a life on earth that reflects your love for all your people. Lead my thoughts, my heart, my steps, and all my actions this day so that they may reflect you and be worthy of my offering them to you. Amen.