Daily Retreat 08/20/08
2008 Aug 20 Wed: Bernard, ab, dr M
Ez 34: 1-11/ Ps 22(23): 1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6/ Mt 20: 1-16
From today’s readings: “Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.... Are you envious because I am generous?”
Woe to shepherds pasturing themselves!
We’re all familiar with paintings of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, inspired by the metaphor the Lord claimed for Himself in chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, as well as the famous words of the psalm we read today. In fact, the simple but arresting image of God’s people as His sheep recurs many times in the Bible, along with the custom of calling the leaders of God’s people “shepherds” (or “pastors,” since that’s just the Latin word for “shepherds”).
Nowadays, we tend to only use the term “shepherds/pastors” to denote religious leaders, whereas in biblical times, political rulers were also aptly recognized as shepherds of the people. Perhaps the modern democratic process of electing leaders strains the appropriateness of viewing those in office as “shepherds,” yet the divine warning in Ezekiel, “Woe to shepherds pasturing themselves...” is meant to be noted by all leaders, be they religious, political, and popular.
All leaders, of whatever kind, rank, and range of influence, are ultimately answerable to God, and Ezekiel points out that they need to be reminded about this fundamental truth, so that in whatever way a man is given to shepherd God’s people, he may do so as the Good Shepherd would so!
Ez 34: 1-11/ Ps 22(23): 1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6/ Mt 20: 1-16
From today’s readings: “Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.... Are you envious because I am generous?”
Woe to shepherds pasturing themselves!
We’re all familiar with paintings of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, inspired by the metaphor the Lord claimed for Himself in chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, as well as the famous words of the psalm we read today. In fact, the simple but arresting image of God’s people as His sheep recurs many times in the Bible, along with the custom of calling the leaders of God’s people “shepherds” (or “pastors,” since that’s just the Latin word for “shepherds”).
Nowadays, we tend to only use the term “shepherds/pastors” to denote religious leaders, whereas in biblical times, political rulers were also aptly recognized as shepherds of the people. Perhaps the modern democratic process of electing leaders strains the appropriateness of viewing those in office as “shepherds,” yet the divine warning in Ezekiel, “Woe to shepherds pasturing themselves...” is meant to be noted by all leaders, be they religious, political, and popular.
All leaders, of whatever kind, rank, and range of influence, are ultimately answerable to God, and Ezekiel points out that they need to be reminded about this fundamental truth, so that in whatever way a man is given to shepherd God’s people, he may do so as the Good Shepherd would so!
posted by FrPitstick | 8/18/2008
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