psalm 23: presents vs. presence - Christ the King A 2017

Today we reflect on Psalm 23, the most famous psalm, the all-time favorite psalm.

If you are keen in studying this psalm you will notice that in the first part the psalmist speaks of God in the third person – the Lord is my shepherd, he gives me repose, he leads me to restful waters, he refreshes my soul, he guides me.

Then right in the middle of the psalm, the psalmist changes tone and begins talking to Go, instead of talking about God.  And so, the psalmist says, "for you are at my side, with your rod and your staff; You spread the table before me; you anoint my head with oil."  If you notice the shift happens when we reach that point which says "for you are at my side." For you are with me.  This Hebrew phrase is exactly at the middle.  If you count the Hebrew words before this phrase the total would be 26 words.  If you count the Hebrew words after this phrase, the total would again be 26.  It would seem then that the author of this psalm by putting this phrase right smack in the middle wants us to know that this is the most important thought he is conveying.

The Lord is at my side. For you Lord are with me.

I believe this is the bottom line of psalm 23.  God may not have sheltered us from the difficulties of life.  God may not have manipulated the power of nature in order to give us a miracle we thought we deserve.  God may not have answered whatever we have prayed for with all the faith we could muster.  But just the same, "you are at my side" is all that matters.  For as long as you are with me Lord is all that is important.

When I got sick many years back I tried to intellectually understand what I was going through and so I bought, borrowed and read books and any literature I can find on the meaning and presence of suffering in our world, particularly in my life.  Nothing can satisfactorily explain suffering to me.  Then one night when I was trying to withdraw from a pain reliever drug I was beginning to get addicted with (I started with 1 capsule a day and by that time I was already taking 5), I was in bed then in paralyzing pain because of the withdrawal.  Then the words just came like a mantra "for You are with me... for You are at my side".  I fell asleep and it was the best sleep in years.

Jesus never revealed himself to me as bread multiplier or as miracle worker for I never got the healing I constantly prayed for.  Jesus never revealed himself to me as a shield from all harm or as a problem solver, for many times I have to work my way out of so many problems.  But there is one thing that Jesus gave me.  There is one thing that Jesus showed me.  He revealed himself to me as "the Lord at my side."  This may sound simple and uncomplicated but only with God at our side can we say with the psalmist, "I shall not want," with God at my side "I shall lack nothing."

The kingship of the Lord is not about ruling.  It is about presence.  Our first reading says, I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up.

In the gospel this presence will be further personified in the concrete in the presence of the other, especially in the presence of those in need.

In facebook there is a battle going on.  I am not referring to Molo.  I am referring to presents versus presence.  Things for gifts versus personal presence as gift. 

Seminarians, tell your parents today, “more than presents I want your presence during visiting hours, I want your presence on days like these.” 

Parents, tell your sons, “when I am here I really appreciate it more than anything that you can spend time with us, we don't have to need something to be with each other, we don't even have to talk. Can we just sit side by side, can you at least allow me to see you eating what I brought?  And can you please stop borrowing my cellphone, because I really feel bad when there is someone in that cellphone more important than me.”

Presence.

Today we celebrate the kingship of the Lord.  Today we celebrate presence.