There is a story told of a London dinner party at which Sir Richard Burton was the center of interest. The award-winning Film and Shakespearian actor held the room spellbound. Another guest of the host, a retired Vicar of a parish church, was a somewhat rumpled, reserved and out of place.
At a lull in the conversation, Vicar said sheepishly to Burton, “Would you do me the kindness of reciting the 23rd psalm?” Handing Burton his tattered prayer book, open to the passage, he continued, “It is my favorite and God has given you such a great gift of oratory?”
“I’d be honored” replied Burton and he took the little book and recited the Psalm with evidence of his profession skill. When the applause from the guests subsided, he handed the Psalter back to the Vicar and said, “Now you? Will you please recite it for me?”
Somewhat embarrassed, the Vicar held the little book to his chest, closed his eye, and began. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”
His eyes opened and there was a hush over the room. All eyes were fixed on him.
Burton broke the silence by saying, “Ah, there is the difference! I can read the psalm. He knows the Shepherd!”
Today, on this first Friday of Lent, let’s go deeper into our knowledge and Love of the Shepherd.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. -Psalm 23
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