H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon during the Wednesday meeting this evening from the Church of Saint George in Manshiyet El-Bakry, Cairo. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the online C.O.C. Channel of the Church’s Media Center.

His Holiness continued the series “Specialized Chapters”, speaking this time on “The Faithful Shepherd and the Flock Who Trusts in Him.” He read Psalm 23, known as the Shepherd’s Psalm, and reflected on its meanings, explaining that the Lord Christ likened Himself in this psalm to a shepherd, to provide reassurance.

His Holiness explained what the Shepherd does as follows:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
God provides for human needs with His great gifts — oxygen in the air, water from rain and rivers, and the sun as a source of clean energy. Yet humanity polluted and corrupted these good gifts. But God remains the source of sufficiency; for example, He sent food to Elijah the prophet during the famine by means of ravens. God is always the source of satisfaction.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”
God the Shepherd leads man to “green pastures,” places of nourishment and rest, which represent the ever-renewing Word of God. He also leads him to “still waters,” representing the Holy Spirit who fills a person, as the Lord said to the Samaritan woman:
“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst” (John 4:14).
She left her water jar (the desires of the world) because she began to drink and be satisfied in Christ. Saint John Chrysostom says: “The green pastures are the Holy Scriptures, and the still waters are baptism and the Holy Spirit.”

“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
God the Shepherd brings back the lost sheep and restores it to “the paths of righteousness”: the ways of goodness—right thought and sound decision—just as the Lord Christ did with His disciple Peter after the resurrection:
“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17).
Christ came not to destroy the lost but to bring them back to the Father’s embrace.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.”
God the Shepherd accompanies His people even through difficult paths and times of danger, promising His constant presence:
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower” (Proverbs 18:10).

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The rod symbolizes protection, while the staff represents support. God the Shepherd offers comfort and encouragement. As with Daniel the prophet: “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me” (Daniel 6:22).
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic said, “In every distress remember that the Shepherd is with you; fear not death, for death has become a door to life.”

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
The word “prepare” denotes complete readiness and perfect provision. God the Shepherd nourishes His children with the heavenly table in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. He dwells in them, giving peace, tranquility and victory over evil. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem said: “Christ is our table, offering us His Body and Blood as a pledge of eternal life.”

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”
God the Shepherd pours out blessings upon His people. Through the sacrament of Holy Chrism (Myron), our bodies become consecrated and sanctified. Saint Basil the Great says: “The Holy Spirit is the oil that softens the heart and grants joy.”
The expression “my cup runs over” means the heart overflows with joy, as the Lord said: “But rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
God the Shepherd leads us toward eternity, where goodness and mercy accompany the believer in this life and glory awaits in the next.

His Holiness urged daily reflection on the good gifts of God for encouragement.
He added that meditating on God’s blessings creates a longing for the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Macarius the Great said: “Heaven is the fold of the sheep, where the Shepherd never departs from His flock.”

Pope Tawadros then spoke about the flock’s trust in their Shepherd through:

-Practical faith.
-Obedience to the Shepherd.
-Steadfastness in the ever-renewing green pastures.
-Confidence in the heavenly table offered continually by the Shepherd.
-Assurance of the goodness and mercy that accompany the journey.

Finally, His Holiness gave a spiritual exercise:
to write the verses of the Psalm by hand, chant them daily, live according to their meaning, and record the beautiful works of God in our lives as revealed through the verses of the Psalm.

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