THE FAMILY ALTAR

May 8.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine

enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Psalms 23:5

The Good Shepherd, who guides and protects His sheep so

faithfully, is also their loving Host. He prepares a table before

them in the very presence of their enemies. We know these cun-

ning and malevolent enemies. They are the old Evil Foe, the

alluring world, our own sin-corrupted flesh. Against them we

must daily fight and pray, for they daily seek to seduce us into

misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice. But in our

conflict with them our Good Shepherd is with us, and for us

prepares a table in His precious Gospel and His blessed Sacrament

of the Altar, where we can eat of the rich viands of His grace

and gain new strength and courage for the conflict, while our

enemies look on and gnash their teeth in impotent rage, because

they cannot prevent it nor get us into their power. The Good

Shepherd is too mighty for them. He will not suffer them to

touch a single hair of His trusting sheep. His love for His blood-

bought sheep is so great and bountiful that He not only feeds

them at the table of His grace, but He also anoints them with

oil, that is, fills them with His Holy Spirit, who leads them into

all truth and glorifies the matchless love of their Savior before

their eyes to such a degree that their cup of joy runneth over

and their adoring souls break out in the rapturous song : 

The King of Love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow

My ransomed soul He leadeth,

And, where the verdant pastures grow.

With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed.

But yet in love He sought me,

And on His shoulder gently laid,

And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill

With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;

Thy rod and staff my comfort still,

Thy cross before to guide me.

And so through all the length of days,

Thy goodness faileth never:

Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise

Within Thy house forever!