18/08/2023
Those who were entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the Israelites did not do the job. The king and his advisors listened to the false prophets and not to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, and all the other prophets that the Lord sent to them; they only listened to the messages they wanted to hear. Because of their idolatry and their injustice, the Israelites lost their country and were either killed or sent into exile. Ezekiel is the prophet of the exile. He lets the people know that God will eventually bring them back to Judah, and here he is telling them that those who led them will no longer be their leaders because of their disobedience which brought about their situation in Babylon. These shepherds had in effect, led their sheep to the slaughter instead of guarding their flocks from marauders, and keeping them safe. Today there are good shepherds and there are those who use their followers for their own gain. The good shepherds are faithful to the Bible, remind their followers of the need for them to be just and to keep the law of love toward their neighbors. They encourage prayer, taking care of the earth, avoiding anger and violence, and gathering with others who work for justice. On the other hand, there are shepherds who make demands of the people for no reason except to fill their own pockets or to satisfy their need for power and control. It is up to us to know the difference, but we can count on the Lord to guide us if we are unsure. As Jesus warned us, we need to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.