The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. (Psalm 23)
Christians today can take some comfort in the fact that we live in the best of times and the worst of times. The worst of times, for us, involves division and strife, as well as continued hostilities around the globe, causing the innocent to suffer. It could all become very depressing except for the encouragement we receive in these Eastertide readings.
We can share in Peter’s post-Pentecost joy and confidence, recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, because God’s time and space is always present, always now. Pentecost is – for each one of us – whenever we claim it in faith, in prayer and in ardent longing. Then, we have our Good Shepherd; always loving us, always guiding us, always present, closer to us than we are to ourselves, as St. Augustine says.
The Lord asks us to receive his assurances that nothing can come between us and his faithful love, no matter what bitter circumstances are present in our lives. He came on earth, He died, He rose from the dead and He lives now for us. These are the best of times.
