You have prepared a table in my sight, opposite those who trouble me. You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup, which inebriates me, how brilliant it is! (Ps 23:5)
תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃
Parasti in conspectu meo mensam, adversus eos, qui tribulant me. Impinguasti in oleo caput meum: et calix meus inebrians quam præclarus est!
ἡτοίμασας ἐνώπιόν μου τράπεζαν ἐξ ἐναντίας τῶν θλιβόντων με· ἐλίπανας ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὴν κεφαλήν μου, καὶ τὸ ποτήριόν σου μεθύσκον ὡς κράτιστον.
One way to experience and show closeness is to sit down at the table, to eat, and to celebrate. The psalmist experiences an incredible change in his fate. From the pasture, through the dark valley, he finds himself in the palace, where God himself welcomes him and sets the table with dishes that ennoble him. Enemies can only watch. Sometimes there are still crumbs of bread on Lenten tables. However, there is a table where Living Bread feeds us to our hearts’ content every day.
