Leaders behaving badly / Good shepherds

 Ezekiel 34:7-15; John 10:1-10

A few decades ago, I learned something about sheep by watching old movies on TV about the range wars between ranchers and the “invasion” of sheepherders. It may or may not have been this movie, The Sheepman. It might have been an episode of Gunsmoke. Because sheep eat the grass down to the ground if permitted, cattle ranchers resisted having sheep on the range. The shepherd in the movie explained that the solution was to let the cattle graze first, and then the sheep.

Both cattle and sheep need to be moved to new grazing land – to wherever the grass really is greener. Good ranchers and good shepherds take care to ensure the animals have good feeding ground as well as protection from predators. Modern shepherds use llamas or donkeys to fend off wolves. In biblical times, this was also the job of human shepherds.

Good shepherds make sure the sheep in their care are protected and well fed and watered, sheared at the right time, checked for diseases, and so forth. The role of protector of the sheep has long been used as an image for a ruler, a king.

When we first meet King David, he is a young man caring for his family’s sheep. While the Bible portrays him as always faithful to God, he is not perfect. I will simply mention the whole story of the relationship with Bathsheba and the death of her husband Uriah. However, when he needed to, he confessed and repented.

Many subsequent kings and priests have the reputation as evildoers. According to an AI Overview: Based on Biblical accounts, all 20 kings of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) were considered "bad" or evil, mostly promoting idolatry. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) had 20 rulers (19 kings and 1 queen), with roughly 8-10 considered "good" for following God, while the others were deemed evil, though some good kings also had major failings.

Good kings relied on God and removed idol worship altars, prioritized the Jerusalem temple, repented – as David did, and relied on God and God’s prophets. Bad or evil kings introduced or allowed the worship of other gods, stole land and killed innocent people, and rejected or ignored prophets sent by God.

In our first reading today, the Prophet Ezekiel speaks God’s message to the king and leaders of Judah before and during the Babylonian exile. He warns the leaders of the importance of being good shepherds for the people, because if they are not, God will replace them with a true shepherd.

This passage from John’s Gospel is filled with sheep/shepherd related metaphors. Jesus uses the image of God as Good Shepherd, to describe his role among the disciples and the people. Jesus is the voice the sheep listen to because other voices lead them astray. Jesus is the gate at the opening of the fold, and will protect his sheep from evil by preventing the evil-doers from entering.

With these words, Jesus invites individuals to follow him, and warns those leaders who act like the evil-doing kings of the past that there is no place for them in Jesus’ flock. We know, of course, that some of those leaders put Jesus to death. We also know, in hindsight, that that was God’s plan.

John 10:10 is a favorite Bible verse for many people. Jesus says: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. We can personalize it: I came that YOU may have life, and have it abundantly.

What does it mean to have abundant life? It means to live in God’s presence, and to know God is present with us, even when we are unaware, or unsure, of it. We find abundance when we notice all the little things that give joy, despite the challenging events and circumstances of our community and world.

My West Citrus Kiwanis Club, based in Crystal River, has sponsored an event for developmentally challenged students and adults for many years. Called the Key-CREST Field day, it’s an opportunity for these folks to shine, to experience abundance in a world where they often find limits. Participants run track, throw softballs, and play cornhole. Every aspect of the event is planned to help them succeed. Health Academy students accompany participants as needed, everyone gets 2 medals, and adult volunteers feel their hearts filled with abundance as the youth and adults find success.

Pope Leo is actively speaking about justice and peace, expressing his views publicly on many topics. The Pope has highlighted the imbalance of wealth and power between the Global North and the Global South. Here are two recent quotes:

To reporters on his plane he said: "I personally believe a state has a right to set rules at its borders. I am not saying that all must enter as if without order, sometimes creating more unjust situations where they arrive than those that they had left. But in saying this, I ask what we do in richer countries to change the situation in poorer countries."

He spoke to University students in Cameroon: "In the face of the understandable tendency to migrate — which may lead one to believe that elsewhere a better future may be more easily found — I invite you, first and foremost, to respond with an ardent desire to serve your country and to apply the knowledge you are acquiring here to the benefit of your fellow citizens." 

What is Leo’s point? That if we work together, all can have an abundant life. If we follow the Good Shepherd and allow the shepherd to protect and guide us, we will have the abundant life Jesus promises us. If we listen for the Good Shepherd’s voice,  we will know how to avoid the snares of thieves who come to steal the abundant life from us.

I wonder what makes your life abundant? And I wonder what you do to help others have abundant lives?  Amen