Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Every time get a new political leader or a new pastor we measure said person against our idealized version of who that person should be. When it comes right down to it the real person may seem a let down, because they are not all that we hoped they would be. With reflection we realize that as human beings we are all flawed, and in general, most leaders are doing the best they can considering the circumstances. Today’s readings have an understand of an ideal leader via the eyes of Ezekiel who is describing the contrast of a good and Matthew’s gospel where we here Jesus teach a parable about the generous land owner.
We come across Ezekiel just after he learns of Jerusalem’s fall. Ezekiel had already been in exile for twelve years. Ezekiel’s prophecy against the shepherds of Israel reads like a job description of a bad shepherd: you feed yourself instead of your sheep, you do not search for those who have strayed or are lost, and you do not strengthen the weak or heal the sick. The prophet is challenging the leaders, the shepherds of Israel, who have failed to hear and live the word of the Lord. Although the reading ends here the prophecy does not as we learn that ultimately the Lord will be the shepherd of the people of Israel. God as Good Shepherd promises to search for the lost sheep and gather them back as one people.
The psalm puts this imagery on a level that is personal and reminds us the Lord is our shepherd who will provide for us all the days of our life. The message is clear that even if our lives are unbearable and all hope seems lost, we are to trust the Lord and be not afraid. The Lord reminds us that if we take heart and have courage, because the Lord will seek us out and goodness and kindness will follow us always.
The gospel sheds light on just how far the good shepherd will go to seek out the lost. Using the parable of the generous landowner, we find a God who will go out of the way to search out those who are lost. Time and again in this story the landowner goes back to hire those who need work, to find those who are lost with nothing to do. The landowner not only is willing to search for the lost as promised in Ezekiel, he rewards them all equally. The recompense is the Kingdom of heaven. The Good Shepherd calls us all enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
As we go about our day Lord, we ask that you to help us be aware of the ways we are envious of others. Give us eyes that recognize how abundantly we are blessed bestowed on us. Help us to realize that no matter how unworthy we feel, your love is a gift and we must accept it, so that we can all be good shepherds, good disciples of Jesus.
The readings for the feast of St. Bernard are extremely fitting. He was gifted at appraising situations, drawing distinctions and inspiring people to change their lives. Indeed one of the more delicate reasons for choosing these readings was a situation in which St. Bernard was called upon to settle a dispute between a good shepherd and a bad shepherd. His action in this matter saved the church from possible schism.
- Michael Montgomery