149th Meditation
“You prepare a table for me under the eyes of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup brims over”(Ps 23:5).
This verse is taken from the psalms of David, whom the Lord chose as king of Israel. Likewise, each of us Christians has been anointed by God’s grace to be a “son of the great King.” Thus, we can adapt the words of this psalm for ourselves as well, for our King is God Himself. When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, He replied, “It is you who say that I am a king” (Jn 18:37).
The Church celebrates the Kingship of Christ as a Solemnity, and those who seek to honor the Heavenly Father as He desires, also look to Him who is the Father of this King and this Kingdom.
However, the Kingdom of God also has enemies, who seek to subjugate humanity under the dominion of the “prince of this world” (cf. Jn 14:30). They are powerful enemies, who persecute the “children of the king”. If it were not for the fact that His children are under the protection of their divine Father and the Mother He has given them, they would be lost.
“Then the dragon was enraged with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, who obey God’s commandments and have in themselves the witness of Jesus” (Rev 12:17).
Nevertheless, our Father and our King prepare the table for us in the face of our enemies. In the midst of the fierce battle that the enemy powers unleash against the Lamb (cf. Rev 17:12-14), God invites us to participate in His royal banquet. Moreover, our Father does not miss the opportunity to equip His children with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, with His anointing. Just as kings are anointed, we too are anointed and the divine anointing remains in us (1Jn 2:20,27).
The anointing of the Holy Spirit gives us the spirit of fortitude, so that we can remain faithful to the Lord in this battle against the Lamb and have a share in His victory: “But because the Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings, He will defeat them, He and His followers, the called, the chosen, the trustworthy” (Rev 17:14).
At all times and in all places the Lord takes care of His own, providing them with everything so that they lack nothing. He fills us with spiritual and natural goods, and our cup overflows. Its most precious content is the joy of knowing that we are loved by God.