Scattered Sheep

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them. 

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast, for lack of a shepherd; because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep; because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds.

I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths. For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. (Ezekiel 34:1-11)

Ezekiel warned the shepherds of Israel in very strong terms.  The shepherds were the priests and other rulers who thought only of themselves at great cost to the people who depended on them for protection and spiritual direction and leadership.  These words easily could have been spoken by Pope Francis who repeatedly has spoken out against clericalism and politicians who “pasture themselves.”  

Scattering of sheep has been the result of too many reports of sexual abuse of minors and other horrible behavior unbecoming of a priest or deacon having sworn oaths before God to save the Lord’s sheep – to tend them.  Many have not strengthened the weak nor healed the sick nor bound up the injured.  They did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost but lorded it over them harshly and brutally.  

Of course, the vast majority of religious leaders [and politicians] have kept their vows and have done many good works.  However, the minority has cast a shadow over the holy and good thereby convincing many young and old to remain scattered and wandering disenchanted with religion and even politics.

Deacon David Pierce