Woe, ye Shepherds.
Ezekiel 34
St. Matthew 24
I am writing this week with a very heavy heart, in the aftermath of the devastating news from Pennsylvania. In light of this crisis and a response from the Vatican press office which can be described as "underwhelming," this week we are departing from commenting on the lectionary. In stead, we are taking as our texts Ezekiel 34 and St. Matthew 24.
The history of the People of God is a history of crisis. The summary of the book of Judges given in chapter 2 is a cycle well known to us. Sin is followed by God's redemption, which is followed by our self-satisfaction and further sin. And the history of the Church is no different. No sooner was the controversy with the Judaisers (Eusebius and Epiphanius know them as the Ebionites) resolved in Acts 15, then the controversy with the Gnostics began. Followed immediately by the Arian controversy, which was not yet resolved when the Church faced the rise of the Caliphate. The Reconquista was not yet accomplished when the Great Schism ruptured the Church, which was yet a fresh wound when the Avignon Papacy arose, which was followed by the Ottoman threat and then the Reformation. We were never promised anything else. In fact, Christ's words in St. Matt 16:18 seem to promise that Hell will never cease to make war on the Church. He only promises that the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
The prophets prepared us for this reality. Ezekiel 34 is a powerful invective against bad shepherds. "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not shepherds feed the flock?" (Eze. 34:2b, AV) And because of their wickedness and failure to shepherd the flock, the sheep of God are scattered, and wander from the fold. But our great God is not idle. "I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand...For thus saith the Lord God; Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out...and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." (10-12)
Though the shepherds of God's flock are sometimes wicked, God will not abandon His sheep. And in the end "I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and strong; I will feed them with judgment." (16) So let the strong sheep take note: we must lend our strength to the weak. We must not be silent. We who have the strength must hold the shepherds accountable, or else it will be on our heads.
Hold fast. Remember what our Lord said, that "many false prophets shall arise, and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, and the love of many wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same will be saved." (St. Matt. 24:11-13) The sins of those claiming to represent Christ will "deceive, if possible, even the elect." (24) Remember that we suffer faithless shepherds only a little while, and when the Lord comes, He "shall cut them asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (51)
The harshest words of judgment in Scripture are reserved for bad stewards and false shepherds. We are assured that God will deal with them particularly because we, who trusted and relied on them, so often are helpless against their abuses. I am not in a position to hold all of the abusive priests accountable. The prelates who turned a blind eye, or even protected them, do not answer to me. I can lodge my protest and do what I can, but finally God will hold them accountable on the Last Day.
Let us repent on behalf of the Church. Let us resolve to prevent abuses in the future. Let us hold our priests and bishops accountable. And finally, let us consign them to the Great Judge on the Last Day. For God is raising up a true shepherd in their place, His servant David, he shall feed us, and he shall be our shepherd. (Eze. 34:23)
St. Matthew 24
I am writing this week with a very heavy heart, in the aftermath of the devastating news from Pennsylvania. In light of this crisis and a response from the Vatican press office which can be described as "underwhelming," this week we are departing from commenting on the lectionary. In stead, we are taking as our texts Ezekiel 34 and St. Matthew 24.
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| The Sorrow of King David William Brassey Hole |
The prophets prepared us for this reality. Ezekiel 34 is a powerful invective against bad shepherds. "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not shepherds feed the flock?" (Eze. 34:2b, AV) And because of their wickedness and failure to shepherd the flock, the sheep of God are scattered, and wander from the fold. But our great God is not idle. "I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand...For thus saith the Lord God; Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out...and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." (10-12)
Though the shepherds of God's flock are sometimes wicked, God will not abandon His sheep. And in the end "I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and strong; I will feed them with judgment." (16) So let the strong sheep take note: we must lend our strength to the weak. We must not be silent. We who have the strength must hold the shepherds accountable, or else it will be on our heads.
Hold fast. Remember what our Lord said, that "many false prophets shall arise, and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, and the love of many wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same will be saved." (St. Matt. 24:11-13) The sins of those claiming to represent Christ will "deceive, if possible, even the elect." (24) Remember that we suffer faithless shepherds only a little while, and when the Lord comes, He "shall cut them asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (51)
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| Icon: Christ the Good Shepherd |
The harshest words of judgment in Scripture are reserved for bad stewards and false shepherds. We are assured that God will deal with them particularly because we, who trusted and relied on them, so often are helpless against their abuses. I am not in a position to hold all of the abusive priests accountable. The prelates who turned a blind eye, or even protected them, do not answer to me. I can lodge my protest and do what I can, but finally God will hold them accountable on the Last Day.
Let us repent on behalf of the Church. Let us resolve to prevent abuses in the future. Let us hold our priests and bishops accountable. And finally, let us consign them to the Great Judge on the Last Day. For God is raising up a true shepherd in their place, His servant David, he shall feed us, and he shall be our shepherd. (Eze. 34:23)
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