ALL SHEPHERDS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD (HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME

Theme: All shepherds must give an account to God

Homily for Wednesday of the 16th week in the ordinary time

Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16

The term Shepherd is a very prevalent concept among the Jews. Prominent figures in the history of Israel were shepherds: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David etc even kings and religious leaders were described as shepherds of the people. Hence, the shepherds as representatives of God, among many duties are saddled with the responsibility of nurturing, caring, protecting and providing for the sheep. However, in the first reading from the book of prophet Ezekiel, God lamented over the irresponsible attitude of the shepherds towards the sheep entrusted to their care. Rather than seek the well-being and interest of the sheep, the shepherd had become selfish and individualistic. Thus, says the Lord God: you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not the shepherd feed the sheep? (Ezekiel 34:1-3).

God, through the prophet Ezekiel, accused the shepherds on these bases (a) the shepherds exploited the people entrusted to their care and did not provide for their needs (b) they offered no sense of security and pastoral care to the flock of God (c) they did not guarantee the unity and safety of the flock. 

Consequently, God denounced the shepherds and took the fatherly responsibility of seeking the wellness of the sheep. From this says the Lord, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out“ (Ezek 34:11). Manifestation of the immeasurable compassion and love God has for his people. This clearly illustrates: the parable of the lost sheep (My 18:12-14), and the parable of the Good shepherd (John 10).

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, this reading calls for a profound reflection and examination of conscience. In our own times, shepherds can include: parents, guardians, priests, bishops, superiors, teachers and lecturers, formators, political leaders, and those who find themselves in the corridor of leadership. It evokes the question: How responsible are we towards the preservation of the welfare of the people entrusted to our care, the security of the people, the unity of the people, the health and knowledge of the people, their moral upbringing? “Thus says the Lord God, I am going to call the shepherds to account”. Remember, on the judgement day every individual will give account of how he/she admisntered the duties and responsibilities given to him/her. Are you prepared for this? God is the Good Shepherd per excellence. This prophecy of Ezekiel is perfectly fulfilled in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only true Good Shepherd. 

This fatherly concern and generosity of God strolled into the Gospel reading of today (the parable of the vineyard labourers). In the image of the landowner, God constantly at various times and moments, seeks the interest of us to come and be part of his vineyard (church), that we may be fruitful and received the reward of salvation (eternal life). He never gets tired of blessing us according to his generosity. Even in our failures and weaknesses, he lavishes upon us unreserved graces and favours. Our lateness to God's vineyard notwithstanding; the 3rd, 6th, 9th or 11th hour of the day, the reward and blessings of God for the goodness and salvation of his people is boundless and unlimited. The path of his generosity is determined by him alone as he can be generous to some without being unjust to others. Have I no right to do what I like with my own?

Friends in Christ, it is obvious that God's justice is different from the human sense of  justice. For humans, justice is to give each person what his conduct or input deserves. This was the reason why those who came early to work at the vineyard grumblesd at the landowner when he decided to pay all the workers equally because that sense of Justice contardicts the human perception of Justice. Consequently, the disposition of the landowner to extend his generosity to the late comers without being unjust to the early arrivals is typical of Divine justices. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, let us mindful the words of Jesus: the last will be first, and the first will be last (Mtt 20:16). Let us labour in the vineyard of the Lord God as long as God wants, in the manner God wants and because God wants. 

Have a happy day!

Fr Remi osj