The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23

Easter 4, April 26, 2026

Holy Trinity Cathedral

“The Lord is My Shepherd”

There were no previous shepherds in my family.  At least, not for generations.  My father’s side of the family argues about whether we were Polish or Ukrainian (the national borders kept shifting around in the past).  Their surname was Yaciw, and they argue about how to pronounce that, too.  All we could find is that it has its roots in medieval Slavic languages.  It could be from the personal name Yacov, or Jacob, which was given to those who pursued an agrarian lifestyle.  Perhaps as farmers or herders.  So my dad, growing up on a dairy farm on Hatzic Prairie outside Mission, changed from Maxym Yaciw to Max Shepard.  Maybe he thought it  was easier for others to spell, but grammar was never his strong suit, so we didn’t get the standard version.  Shepard rather than Shepherd.  That’s okay- there is only one Good Shepherd.

When I entered onto the path for ordained ministry, my friends and family were delighted at how appropriate a name this is for a pastor.  It is a blessing and a burden. I admit that with it I feel quite a responsibility to bear public witness in a Church that has so many generations of dedicated servants tending the flock.  In my vows as a priest, I promised to undertake to be a faithful pastor to all whom I am called to serve, labouring together with them and with my fellow ministers to build up the family of God.  Along the way, I have made mistakes, often when I have relied too much on my own knowledge or position and not enough on the guidance and support of the One who is my Shepherd.  When I need to be reminded of God’s job description, rather than mine, I turn back to Psalm 23.

Is there anyone here who has never heard of the psalm that begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd”?  I thought not.  Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known pieces of Scripture in the Bible.  Jews and Christians turn to it in times of need, often when we are fearful or anxious or grieving.  In North American culture, we encounter it most often at funerals.  There is good reason for this: the words offer comfort and light when mourning.  But there is a danger in only pulling it out when someone dies.  The familiar words become associated emotionally with death.  And this psalm is about life much more than it is about death or dying.  Let’s claim it back, as other cultures and ages have been able to do, to point us towards a deeper understanding of our relationship with the Divine.

In a few short verses, this poem prayer from the time of the first Hebrew monarchy describes God as the true Shepherd.  This is important politically and theologically. Although the Children of Israel were given an earthly king to rule over them in the name of God, authority and protection comes from the Holy One alone.  King David, to whom this psalm is attributed, started out as a humble shepherd boy himself. He was anointed to hold power over Israel.  But it is he himself that calls on the Lord as the Shepherd over him.

The prayer is a personal address.  Maybe that’s why we feel so connected when we pray these words.  The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. At the same time, we know that shepherds care for a flock, not just one sheep.  We are part of a larger whole.  Not only does God watch over David, or me, but all the people who call upon his Name.  We affirm our trust that the Shepherd cares for all of us.

As the Shepherd, the Lord is shown in the roles of Guide, Comforter, and Host.   The beginning verses tell us how God walks daily with us.  The green pastures and still waters are not just in a future heaven, but the times of respite, joy, and refuge that come into our lives.  The right paths are laid out for us, and God is with us in every decision and step that we take.  The Lord guides us our whole life through. 

Even when things get difficult, God is beside us to comfort us.  The shepherd carries a staff to guide and nudge the flock, and a rod to protect them from the dangers of wild animals and bandits.  With God’s help, we are protected along the way.  We may go through dark places and shadows may surround us, but we do not need to fear for our souls.

The Good Shepherd also shares abundance with us.  Like a herder travels with the animals to provide fresh fodder, God will also provide what we need.  There is parallel here to the Lord’s prayer: “give us this day our daily bread”.  Our Divine Host sets us in the midst of creation.  There is enough for us and for those who were accounted as enemies, who have troubled us.  Reconciliation is possible. In God’s kingdom, we are accounted precious guests.  We are greeted with delight.  Our heads are anointed with oil as signs of welcome and privilege, and the wine of salvation flows freely.  This is a promise for all the days of our lives and into forever. 

We can find life abundant because God wants this for us.  That’s something to remember whether we gather at the death of a faithful Christian or lift up a soul we are entrusting to God’s care.  But even more, it is a truth to hold to every day we wake again to see what new pastures God may be leading us towards.

Some of us learned the words of Psalm 23 according to the Book of Common Prayer.  Others can sing by heart one of the hymn versions, like “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or “the King of Love my Shepherd is”.  These are the ones we tend to turn to as old friends.  Occasionally, though, it is good to hear a fresh translation, one that can help us to wonder at the love and tenderness of a God that is close enough to hear our every prayer.  Bobby McFerrin wrote a variation when contemplating his mother’s love, and how that helped him see more of God’s.  I love that in his original text he spells Shepard like my own last name!

The Lord is my Shepard, I have all I need
She makes me lie down in green meadows
Beside the still waters, She will lead

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs
She leads me in a path of good things
And fills my heart with songs

Even though I walk, through a dark and dreary land
There is nothing that can shake me
She has said She won't forsake me
I'm in her hand

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes

She anoints my head with oil
And my cup overflows

Surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me
All the days of my life
And I will live in her house
Forever, forever and ever

• Bobby McFerrin, The 23^rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother)