March 19, 2013 - Ezekiel 34

Here we have a chapter all about the shepherd of Israel.  One of Christ favorite images is the shepherd and the lost sheep. We see very harsh treatment of those shepherds who are given the responsibilities of guiding God's people and do not do so correctly.  One thing that jumped out at me was not just that the shepherds did not guide Israel correctly, but that they actually took what was good for themselves and ruined things for those they were supposed to protect and guide.  The grass, they would eat it and trample it.  The water, they would drink and they dirty it with their feet.  It is not enough that they don't do their job, but they make it difficult for those they are supposed to guide to do live a godly life because they take away the sources God gave them.

Whenever I read about the bad shepherds, I think of all the non-Catholic Christian churches.   I think of the many who have been led away from the Truth and have been hurt by shepherds who have led them astray.  The same could be said for Catholics that have been guided by priest or bishops that do not fully teach the truth.  This might even be worse since people outside the church will see these priests and be misguided as well about what it means to be Catholic.  But God has a plan for false shepherds, and as you can see and as is only logical with God, there is only one Shepherd.  Nothing else would make any sense.