The Bad Shepherd And The Good Shepherd

The Bad Shepherd, And The Good Shepherd

Eileen Renders

   My Spiritual Advisor, Deacon Charles Larosa told me that this week’s Homily is about the Bad Shepherd and the Good Shepherd, and he wanted me to write about it for this week for www.Catholic365.com.

   As with all my content, they are always a bit about my understanding, life experiences and of course, the Catholic Bible.

   Although most of us do not read much about the “Bad shepherd” as we prefer to skip ahead and read about the “Good Shepherd”, it is important to note what has been shared with us through the Bible. Jeremiah writes, God said; “My people are lost sheep. Their shepherds led them astray.” As a result, they are lost, wandering around and not having a safe place to rest.

Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

However, before we place too much blame on bad shepherds, we must remember that we’re often bad sheep. Isaiah says we go our own way. We need someone to rescue us. Just as our shepherds have a responsibility to us to be good shepherds, we have a responsibility to them to be good sheep.

Much like shepherds, teachers also have a role of leadership. James cautions us against becoming teachers, warning teachers will be judged more strictly, held to higher standards.

James 3:1 Taming the Tongue; Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

   Contrasting these bad shepherds to Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, and shows us how the Good Shepherd is willing to die for his sheep. He cares for them and knows them. When danger threatens the sheep, the Good Shepherd does not run away like a hired man.

   Our human leaders, shepherds, sometimes disappoint us and let us down. Though most of them have good intentions, they’re flawed human beings just like us all. They make mistakes. However, they may not on that lower level as is the bad shepherd, but, they cannot be on the

same level as Jesus our Good Shepherd. We must always thank Jesus, the Good Shepherd who knows us, loves us, and died for us.

John 10:11-18 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Personal Reflection When we are Evangelizing, or teaching God’s word, we need to examine our motivation. If it is done for monetary compensation, our focus cannot be fully on teaching God’s word for the sake of our pupils. If we hold back on our teaching or evangelizing with experiences of God’s love for us, we are not behaving as a good shepherd. Our inspiration comes from God, and our motivation must be for God. When we love him with all our capacity, we cannot restrain our desire to bring as many lost souls to God as He gives us the ability to bring to Him. In my opinion that is perfect love.