The readings for Mass today are very beautiful, in spite of some of the negative connotations. There are two verses in the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, that are especially beautiful:
“… my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.”
“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.”
Then, when we move on to read the gospel today through this light, it is also very beautiful. Jesus told us a parable about a landowner who goes in search of ‘scattered sheep’ (scattered workers). He looks for those who have no work, and gathers them into his vineyard, to care for them, and allow them in turn, to care for his vineyard. It is beautiful because the landowner goes in search of these scattered workers four times throughout the day, at dawn, nine o’clock, noon, and at five o’clock.
The landowner could have let these idle workers fend for themselves, but he didn’t. He specifically sought them out and gave them all the full wages for the day. The gospel doesn’t say this, but the workers would have had families to feed at home, and receiving a full day’s pay was a very generous gift that they, and their families would have appreciated very much. The landowner gave them much more than he had to. This would have brought much joy to the workers who were discouraged and without work, that they could provide for their families.
This is in stark contrast to the shepherds of Israel in the first reading for Mass today. Not only did they not provide for those under their care, but they lived off of the very people they were supposed to be serving. They ate their sheep, wore their wool and drank their milk, but did not take care of the people who provided these things for them. Instead, the sheep (people) were left to fend for themselves, trying to find their way to God and a loving relationship with Him, and in the process they wandered and were scattered throughout the earth.
The overwhelming majority of our priests and bishops are good shepherds. There are many hidden saints among them, those who work quietly taking care of their flock and tending to their many and varied needs every day. We could not live our lives of faith without them. We look up to our priests as role models, and trust them to guide us on the right path to heaven.
The responsorial psalm today (psalm 23) is so very beautiful, because it speaks of God’s deep, abiding love and care for us. He is always with us, no matter what happens, and He always wants what is good for us. And, He sent Jesus to us to walk with us, every step of our journey through life. Our priests act ‘in persona’ of Christ though, when they administer the sacraments for us. They are Christ’s hands and feet, and heart, here on earth, and we are very grateful for the gift of their lives.
On a very rare occasion, it happens that a priest (or bishop) fails to live out his vocation in an honorable way. It is a shock when we hear of this. We trusted these men completely, to guide us in the right paths, and be good and holy role models for us to look up to. It feels like such a deep betrayal when we find out the serious sins, character flaws, failings and weaknesses they have, that are later revealed to us. We do not need to get into all the details though. This subject is a little too close to home for some of us.
What do we do when we find out that a priest betrayed his vocation, betrayed us, and betrayed our trust in him? There are some people who simply leave the church, because their pastor ended up not actually living what he said that he believed (during all those Sunday homilies). There are some who stay, but will no longer go to confession because they think the priest drinks too much, or whatever. But, we are sinners too. The priest has to go to confession the same way we do, and he does not forgive our sins by his own authority, but by the power given to him by Jesus Christ. He acts ‘in persona’ of Christ. Some of the saints have said that even if a priest is in a state of mortal sin, and celebrates Mass, the Eucharist is still transformed into the body of Christ. His personal sin does not make the sacraments invalid.
But, even if the worst happens and your pastor is defrocked, or put in prison, or whatever, there is still much hope for those of us left behind, if you read the last verse in today’s first reading for Mass today:
“For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.”
God and His son Jesus Christ, is stronger than any one individual person in our church. Our faith does not depend on a person, but on Jesus Christ. He is our stronghold, our strength, the life of our souls, and the joy of our hearts. When one of us fails terribly, it damages the body of Christ. But, the opposite is also true, that when one of us grows in holiness, it builds up the body of Christ. Thank God for our holy priests, bishops, the pope, our religious sisters in Christ, and all of the laity who faithfully fulfill their vocation to love God, and to love His holy people.
Daily Mass Readings:
Ezekiel 34: 1-11 / Psalm 23 / Matthew 20: 1-16
