With great confidence, the Psalmist affirms "there is nothing I shall want." This is not an affirmation arising from any human optimism, but is a statement of faith based on the writer's recognition that the Lord is his good and gracious Shepherd.

Among the graces which the writer sees God bestowing is that the Lord has prepared a banquet for him in the sight of his enemies. In this he echoes the prophecy of Isaiah: on the mountain God will provide a banquet for all people. Jesus multiplied bread in the desert for those who had followed him: a miracle story but also a parable, as Jesus shows in concrete form the fulfilment of Isaiah's vision and God's promise. That promise will be filled more truly and wonderfully in the Eucharist, one of the great graces given us as a consequence of the grace we are now preparing to celebrate, the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who will offer himself to us as the bread of life and the cup of our salvation so that we shall never want for anything.