Sunday Devotion: 18 July 2021, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Devotions
Dominus regit me – The Lord is my shepherd
Written by clergy and lay people across our Diocesan community, ‘Sunday Devotions’ is a column of short reflections based on a Lectionary reading of the day, suitable for small group discussion or personal use.
Main Readings: 2 Samuel 7.1-14a; Psalm 89.21-38; Ephesians 2.11-22; Mark 6.30-34, 53-56; [Jeremiah 23.1-16; Psalm 23]
Supplementary Readings: Psalm 145.13-21; Acts 14.8-18; 2 Samuel 7.18-29; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2.1-10
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23.1)
Early in 2003 I lost four important men in my life: Uncle John Joseph (my husband’s namesake, his godfather and wise old mentor); my father-in-law Frank; my maternal grandfather Joe; and, then my darling Johnny, my husband of 20 years. Later that year our beautiful dog Shilo (who was a part of our family for 12 years) succumbed to cancer.
By the time Johnny died in April, I had mastered the art of writing eulogies and planning funerals and built some pretty good connections with clergy and funeral homes. Psalm 23 was always the scripture of choice: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” Every single day someone’s loved one is lost and Psalm 23 gets a good old workout.
In these times of uncertainty and sadness when the news of people dying and suffering around the world is a constant (especially since the outbreak of COVID-19), we are reminded that we all have in our hearts and minds some form of pain hidden deep and ever present – some people experience some form of grief every single day. We must always remember that our dear Lord restores our soul, our faith and our heart, and with his goodness and mercy he brings healing and comfort and wraps us in his loving arms as, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Our Lord is always with me…remember that he is always with you, too.
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