Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself By the flocks of your companions? If you do not know, O fairest among women, Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats Beside the shepherds’ tents (Song of Songs 1:7-9)
Countless people have been seeking the Lord. They would ask the Lord to reveal Himself to them. They want to see Him and enjoy His presence. They want to live with Him, Tell me, O whom I Love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. How can I find You, O Lord? Will I find You in fasting, in prayers, in praising and singing? Or will I find you in the Holy Liturgy, in Communion, in the Church, in the monastery, or during a quiet retreat of seclusion with You? Tell me, O whom l love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon.
St. Augustine had no relationship with God. However, he employed all means possible to find Him. He used logic, philosophy and a number of other means. He wanted to see the Lord and have a relationship with Him. He desired His companionship and longed to enjoy His fellowship. Finally, he found God “within” him. He exclaimed, You were with me, but, because of the abundance of my resistance, I was not with You (Confessions, 10:38). You were there all along, but I did not feel Your presence. I was wondering, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest, while You were resting inside of me, in my heart.
Many people who ask the Lord, Tell me, O whom I love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon, are unaware that the Lord is with them, amongst them and in their midst.
The man born blind also provides us with another example. When Jesus found him again, He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God? The man answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? To which Jesus responded, you have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you, (John 9:35-37). You are with Him, but you do not see Him. Tell me, O whom I love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. This is a call for the Lord, an earnest appeal to see the Lord and a sincere, solemn request to know Him and enjoy His companionship. It is a reflection of an overwhelming desire to join the few followers of the Shepherd in the wilderness, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon.
At a time in which the heat is most severe and spiritual warfare is most intense, a time in which everyone is seeking shelter from the oppressive heat and trying to find comfort for their hearts and their souls, my sole concern and my one desire is to find shelter underneath Your shade. I am seeking You at noon, a time of labour and hard work, toiling under the scorching sun that has beleaguered and stressed me with its excessive heat. Exhausted and worn out I seek You, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon.
What a worthy request! What a beautiful call. A great number of people seek the Lord and reiterate the same request. Tell me, O whom I love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon.
I love You, O Lord, from the depths of my heart and with all my being. I long to do whatever is pleasing for You. Sometimes, however, I do not know what to do. I would like to live with You and enjoy Your fellowship, but I do not know how. There are many different paths that lie ahead of me, so which one shall I choose? I would like to know Your holy blessed will and plan for my life. Tell me, O Lord, about Your Divine plan for my life. Tell me, O whom I love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. Let me know what You want me to do.
People often at times ask the Lord to make known His plans for their lives. They ask what kind of life the Lord wants them to lead. Is it a life of service or one of seclusion? Is it in matrimony or in celibacy? Is it a life of meditation or one of work? Where do You want me, Lord? Is it in speech or in silence? In utter devotion and consecration or is it something else? Tell me, O whom l love, Where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon.
This is an example of a human soul that is confronted with many paths. It asks the Lord for help in finding His way among the many paths that lie ahead. The Lord assures you that whatever path you choose; He will walk alongside with you. The important thing for God is your adoring, loving heart. The Lord is not concerned with the “path” you choose. Rather, His main concern is the “way” you choose to lead your life. What kind of life you opt to lead is the important thing for the Lord.
(From: Have you seen the one I Love, By: H.H. Pope Shenouda)
