Problems and challenges for shepherds and sheep--
Timothy Laniak in 2007 tells the story of a Bedouin Arab and an American scholar sitting under a tent discussing what it takes to be a true shepherd. The Jordanian shepherd insisted that the heart is the most important thing. He lamented, “My sons don’t have the heart for this work, so they don’t deserve the business. I’ll sell the flocks to someone else before I let my sheep go to those who don’t care for them.”1
Jeremiah 3:15 says, "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding."
Being emotionally present helps us be aware of what the sheep’s needs are. Like the Legion of Mary prayer group who advises members at the annual group Acies Marian Consecration ceremony: the words “Should not be mechanically or thoughtlessly pronounced.”
When we pray without our hearts engaged, like a robot, it’s a good thing that God doesn’t treat us like a website that asks to prove you are not a robot!
[It turns out that, as you up drag your mouse or cursor--the movement as you go to click that checkbox is the difference between you and a robot- apparently humans move their cursors with more randomness that bots.]
Good Shepherds have a heart for their flock. E.g. Since ancient times, shepherds have made music to calm their flocks, scare off predators, communicate with other shepherds, and pass the time.
Three standard shepherd’s instruments are attested in the Bible: lyre, flute, and horn (shofar).2
The shofar was invented by shepherds for herding animals when human shouts could not be heard because of the wind.
It is important to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit leading one forward in service. In contrast, shouts from behind that try to drive cattle like a cowboy or cowgirl on horses- driving the cattle to market from behind is a controlling image of leadership.3
We may make mistakes for a long, long time and to go on in our sins, and then the mercy of God reaches out and says, “Now is the time for your breakthrough,” and the Good Shepherd takes us to his flock, carrying us in the shepherd’s arms.
The truth is that we are all sheep and some of us are shepherds in the Church and all of us are shepherds over those in our care. Shepherds are no greater than those he serves, rather, he serves in a different capacity. This is from St. Augustine who tells his flock, “Two things about us must be clearly distinguished: one that we are all Christians, the other, that we [bishops] are placed in charge. Being Christians is for our sake; being in charge is for yours.”4
For Augustine, sheep and shepherds will both give an account of their lives and their leadership to God. This accountability to God does not negate, but rather grounds, our accountability to each other. “Your conscience is open to God; your conduct is open to your brother,” Augustine preaches to pastors.5
Working on the image of the shepherd in the Bible, André Wénin shows that every human being must become the “shepherd of his or her own animality.” By fulfilling their task as shepherds, they learn how to tame their own animality.6 The author has in mind exploitive violence but it can also apply to false teachings from wolves. Or Coyotes, black bears, and mountain lions, who also kill sheep. In other words, shepherds need constant conversion and growth.
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Craig Keener says: “A quick quiz: Who is the thief? When I ask my students this question, they almost always give the same answer: "The Devil." The problem is that the Devil doesn’t appear anywhere in the context of the verse.7
The thief is not the devil per se but leaders and teachers who want the church’s members and influence for themselves. 2 Pet. 2-3 says, there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
E.g. New age—a false mysticism were religion is learned as a sentiment from within, so Catholic Christianity is doctrineless.
Or, perhaps called a “‘more pastoral approach” by downplaying doctrine and dogma, taking a looser line on ethics (especially sexual ethics), and minimizing religious differences with others (and so minimizing the importance of being a Catholic).Their pastoral failure is not preaching on the morals of the Church. They do not call out sin or identify error.’”8
False teachers may also impose a particular Catholic practice or optional devotion as something that must be taught and handed one. St. Paul warned about this saying that some “resent our freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us” by following unnecessary burdensome rules (Gal. 2:4).
Other false teachers on the internet attack the true religion to get one to cross denominational or religious boundaries, or the stranger and thief may also promise to lead you to enlightenment for the price of a seminar, a book, or online group, when their real motivation is greed.
In reality, to speak pastorally is derived from the authority of the whole Christ in Jesus and his Body the Church, and the Magisterium.
2). Lastly, there are problems with sheep too.
Cattle ranchers were much better armed than shepherds in the old West on public lands. Ranchers killed thousands of sheep and some shepherds too. They were angry that sheep overgrazed low-elevation cattle land. This made the range unsuitable for cattle.
Too much video games and not enough serious study, losing the ability to really concentrate in serious study. Sheepherders are accused of cutting fences and stealing grass. Juvenile crime.
John Muir famously called sheep “hoofed locusts.” Later, frustrated with continued damage in his beloved Yosemite Valley, Muir concluded, “As sheep advance, flowers, vegetation, grass, soil, plenty, and poetry vanish.”9.
Negative peer pressure that leads to shoplifting instead of questioning if this group of so-called friends has goals in life compatible with yours?
In sum, when sheep are left to their own devices, they will destroy pasture and harm themselves both in health and in their souls.
They need Shepherds or Shepherdesses with a heart.
1. Nathan H. Gunter, FOR THE FLOCK, The Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, 10 no 1 Spr 2016, p 8 who cites Timothy Laniak While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks: 40 Daily Reflections on Biblical Leadership, 01/01/2007
2, 3. Jonathan L. Friedmann, Shepherd’s Instruments, Jewish Bible Quarterly Vol. 49, 2
4,5. Terence Sweeney, The Pastoral Mystery of the Church, Church Life Journal, June 08, 2023
6. Chi Ai Nguyen Chi, How Did Joseph Become the Shepherd of his Brothers? Science et Esprit, 74 no 2 - 3 May - Dec 2022, p 205
7. Craig Keener, Who Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy?, Christianity Today, 03/17/2017
8. Ibid., Sweeney
9. Adam M. Sowards, Why Sheep Started so many Wars in the American West; 10/05/2017
