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May 10, 2025

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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with sequential stories told across multiple weeks.

Duration: 1245 days

Psalm 23

Psalm 23^[a]

Prayer to the Good Shepherd

¹A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    there is nothing I shall lack.
²He makes me lie down in green pastures;^[b]
    he leads me to tranquil streams.
³He restores my soul,^[c]
    guiding me in paths of righteousness
    so that his name may be glorified.
⁴Even though I wander
    through the valley of the shadow of death,^[d]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are at my side,
with your rod and your staff
    that comfort me.
⁵^[e]You spread a table for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;^[f]
    my cup overflows.
⁶Only goodness and kindness^[g] will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever and ever.

Footnotes

Psalm 23:1 This psalm is a profession of joyful trust in the Lord as the good Shepherd-King that has become one of the world’s greatest prayers. The image of God in shepherd’s garb has parallels in the Prophets (see Isa 40:11; Ezek 34:11-16) and will be the best known of the allegories in which Jesus speaks of himself (see Jn 10:11-18), so much so that the New Testament writers love to give him this title (see Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25; Rev 7:17). The water, oil, and cup of wine of which the text speaks made Christians think of the Sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. As a result, the psalm used to be sung during the Easter Vigil by the newly baptized, who were filled with the joy of God.
In praying this psalm, we can dwell on the fact that the heavenly Father’s love embraces us from eternity, preparing for us in Christ all kinds of spiritual blessings: election, adoption, redemption, incorporation into Christ (see Eph 1:3-14). He watches over us solicitously (see Mt 6:25-34) and follows us through the Good Shepherd who seeks out the straying sheep until he finds it again (see Lk 15).
Psalm 23:2 Green pastures: a symbol for everything that makes life flourish. Tranquil streams: literally, “waters of resting places,” waters that bring refreshment and well-being (see Isa 49:10).
Psalm 23:3 Restores my soul: the Lord revitalizes the psalmist’s spirit (see Ps 19:8; Ru 4:15; Prov 25:13; Lam 1:16). Paths of righteousness: paths that conform to the will of the Lord, the “right way.”
Psalm 23:4 Valley of the shadow of death: another possible translation is: “through the darkest valley.” It refers to any situation that is death-threatening.
Psalm 23:5 What was only a comparison used by the psalmist to indicate the happiness of those who dwell in the house of the Lord has become a wonderful reality in the New Covenant. God sets the table for all who as members of his Church seek rest and protection in the house of God during their pilgrimage. He gives them the Bread of Heaven and the cup of his love and the riches of his grace—Christ’s Precious Blood and the anointing of the Spirit with his sevenfold gifts.
Psalm 23:5 In the ancient Near East, covenants were frequently made at a meal (see Ps 41:10; Gen 31:54; Ob 7). Anoint my head with oil: reception customarily accorded to an honored guest at a banquet (see Lk 7:46; see also 2 Sam 12:20; Eccl 9:8; Dan 10:3). Cup: the same image is found in Pss 16:5; 75:9; 116:13. This verse indicates that the Messianic Banquet (see Ps 22:27) is reserved for the righteous; the wicked are excluded from it (see Isa 65:13f).
Psalm 23:6 Goodness and kindness: the terms often refer to blessings of God’s covenant with Israel; here they are personified (see Pss 25:21; 43:3; 79:8; 89:14). Days of my life: see Pss 27:4; 128:5. Forever: this word could mean “throughout the years.” However, since even the pagan people surrounding Israel believed that human life continued after death in some kind of shadowy existence in the netherworld (see notes on Pss 11:7; 16:9-11), the word “forever” legitimately can be taken in its true sense.

Ezekiel 28:25-26

²⁵Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of all the nations, then they will live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob. ²⁶They will live there in safety, building houses and planting vineyards. They will live there in security while I inflict punishments upon all their neighbors who have despised them. Thus they will know that I am the Lord, their God.

Luke 12:29-32

²⁹“Hence, do not be greatly concerned about what you are to eat and what you are to drink. Do not worry. ³⁰The nations of the world are concerned for all these things. Your Father is aware of your needs. ³¹Rather, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²Treasure in Heaven.^[a]“Fear not, little flock, for your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 23[a]

Prayer to the Good Shepherd

Footnotes

Footnotes

Psalm 23^[a]