Woe to the Shepherds who destroy the Sheep

Sunday, 21 July 2024. Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ps. 23, Ephesians 2:13-18, Mark 6:30-34

“You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:2)

Without leaders, people are bound to perish. In our Gospel passage of Last Sunday, Jesus, recognising this fact, sent out his disciples two by two to various towns and villages to announce the Gospel. Knowing how tempting it was for His disciples to become bad shepherds (wolves in sheep's clothing), Jesus “ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9). With such strict instructions, Jesus avoided the scenario played out in last Sunday’s reading between Amaziah, the priest, and Amos, the prophet.

In today’s first reading, Jeremiah proclaims woes upon shepherds like Amaziah, who, for the love of material riches, have lost their voice (cannot preach truth to power) and have become agents of division. What kind of shepherd am I? Am I an Amaziah or an Amos? Am I like Jesus, who laid down his life for his flock, or like the devil who comes only to steal, kill and destroy? This brings us to our lessons for today:

1. Woe to Shepherds Who Promote Division
In today’s first reading, Jeremiah laments: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: ‘You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 23:1-2).

Bad leaders operate by the principle of divide and rule. Instead of gathering, they scatter the sheep. Instead of promoting love and unity, they make the sheep hate themselves and take advantage of their fights. This was the principle our colonial masters used to enslave us, and unfortunately, it is the same principle at work today. It has deprived us of progress as a nation. Do I scatter those under my care by emphasising their differences?

From the religious perspective, bad leaders drive people away from the church through their scandalous lifestyles rather than attending to their spiritual needs. They promote division by pitching Christians against one another. For instance, last Sunday, we heard Amaziah saying to Amos: “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” (Amos 7:12-13). Rather than preach salvation, bad shepherds preach against the doctrines of other denominations. I once met a Christian who tried to convince me that I was destined to go to hellfire just because I am a catholic. This is an example of the division brought about by shepherds who scatter the flock of God’s pasture.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul describes Jesus: “For he is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility [among us]. … So, then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:14-17-18). Good leaders always work hard to end all forms of hostilities between people; they settle disputes, end disagreements and wars and develop friendships among strangers. This is exactly what Jesus taught when he gave the example of the Good Samaritan to teach us that our neighbours are not necessarily those living beside our houses but those needing our help. (cf. Luke 10:25-37). Do I see all those who are suffering and need help as neighbours?

Jesus was never tribalistic. In teaching us to pray, Jesus referred to God as “Our Father”, showing us that we are brothers and sisters. (cf. Luke 11:2). Jesus also said: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.” (Mark 3:35). This means that we are related to Jesus not by blood but by our goodness and exemplary conduct. Because of Jesus, I am not afraid to go anywhere in the world because I know that as long as a Christian is there, I have a brother who would readily receive me.

2. Woe to Shepherds Who Lack Compassion
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus demonstrates His exceptional leadership as the Good Shepherd. Firstly, Jesus saw that the disciples returning from the missions were tired and exhausted. Without waiting for them to complain, Jesus recommended a retreat: “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest for a while.” A leader can feel the pulse of his people. Merely looking at them, a good leader can tell if his people are tired, hungry, or angry. Like a good mother who can tell what a baby needs even if the baby cannot talk, good shepherds can tell what their flock needs at any time.

Secondly, when Jesus saw the great crowd that followed, he did not send them away but “had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34). This spirit of self-sacrifice is one shining characteristic that only good shepherds possess. In John 10:11, Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” What sacrifice am I making for those under my leadership? Do I care more about what I am gaining from my people? Am I willing to give up everything for their good, even my life? If No, then I am a bad shepherd. Our country would be better if we had leaders ready and willing to lay down their lives for us. Until then, we cannot expect much.

The disciples of Jesus also showed this same quality of compassion. Mark tells us that “many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:31). While the disciples of Jesus left everything behind to follow Jesus, worldly-minded shepherds of today pursue the things they are supposed to leave behind. Instead of becoming fishers of men, they are now fishers of money. One striking lesson in today’s Gospel passage is that Jesus’ disciples returned from their mission with good news despite the strict conditions Jesus gave them. Luke wrote that they “returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us! Jesus said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.’ (Luke 10:17-18). As a leader, it is not how much wealth you amass that will sustain you but the grace of God.

3. Bad Leaders Will Never God Unpunished
Jeremiah says: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep.” If you discover that you are not helping those under your leadership, please honourably resign. Step down. Renounce that office or that position. On the day of judgement, you shall give an account of your leadership before God, and your punishment will equal the millions of lives you destroyed. Even while you are still alive, you will suffer terribly for your evil deeds.

In the words of Amos: “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy, and bring the poor of the land to an end… the Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: ‘Surely I will never forget any of their deeds…’ ‘And on that day,’ says the Lord God, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth upon all loins and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.’ (Amos 8:4-10).

4. Bad Leaders Everywhere: Is There Any Hope?
Everywhere you turn to today, you find bad leaders. Whether in politics or religion, there are a lot of bad shepherds. In one way or another, we are all victims of these bad shepherds’ poor decisions and rascality. Where do we go from here? Since the human shepherds have failed, God declares in today’s First Reading: “I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:3-4). In other words, there is hope for us.

Today’s Psalm crowns it up: “The Lord is my shepherd ... Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” No matter how bad things are for us, we have no reason to fear because God is still with us. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 23:1-6).

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, teach us to be good shepherds to those under our care and cleanse our land from bad shepherds. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ps. 23, Ephesians 2:13-18, Mark 6:30-34).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu