Christian reading of Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1-6. March 27, 2023 - Monday, 5th Week

Psalm 23 is the best-known in the entire Psalter. It presents God as the divine shepherd-king who leads his people to nourishment and safety keeping them alive and protecting them from any danger during their journey through life. The psalm had an incredible impact on the early Church. The Fathers of the Church saw in it the mystery of Christ and our faith. The psalm was so important that all the catechumens had to memorise it during the process of preparation for baptism.

The explanation of the psalm from a Christian perspective is as follows. The Shepherd is Jesus who leads us into the waters of baptism. The sacrament of baptism is seen as the one that refreshes our souls and infuses into us a new life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then, from that moment, Jesus takes over and guides us through life. He does it through the teaching of the Church and the personal relationship that we develop through our prayer life.

The next sacrament that is mentioned in this psalm is the sacrament of the Eucharist. For the Fathers of the Church, “the table” that the Good Shepherd spread before us is the altar where Jesus Christ descends during the celebration of the Mass. The newly baptised Christians were looking forward to partaking in “the cup that overflows” with life and immortality. But, before partaking of Jesus’ body and blood there is one more sacrament that is needed to complete our Christian initiation. It is the sacrament of confirmation.

The celebrant anoints our “head with oil”. It is the holy chrism, the fragrant “aroma of Christ” (2 Cor 2:15) that signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are anointed with this oil during the sacrament of baptism and the sacrament of confirmation. In the sacrament of baptism, this anointing with oil incorporates us into Christ. In the sacrament of confirmation, this anointing signifies “the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost” (CCC, 1302). It empowers us to become witnesses and messengers of Christ and His Gospel.

We call these three sacraments the "sacraments of Christian initiation”. They transform, nourish, and empower us on our journey of faith. Our destination is “the house of the Lord”, the heavenly Jerusalem, that new heaven and earth where there is no more sin, suffering, and death. In that house of the Lord, we shall dwell forever and ever. Amen.