Tend the Flock

In today's first reading from Jeremiah we hear the Lord in agony over the shepherds he has called to tend to his flock. Jeremiah shares God’s words: "You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds." 

It could be easy to look at this and think about the faults of priests and bishops over the centuries, but I read this and hear Jeremiah talking to me and to all of us. Vatican II was very clear that as lay people we are all called to preach the Good News, to engage the culture, to help bring people into the Church, and to show love to all we meet. Pope Paul VI stated: "As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laity have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness." (Apostolicam Actuositatem, section 10)

Let's reflect on that for a second. The pope said that if we do not evangelize and fulfill our offices of priest, prophet, king, then pastors cannot be truly effective. See how the words from Jeremiah start to apply to us today? I think there is an ideology that has crept into the Church that as long as we are nice and treat others well then people will somehow make the connection that we are Christian and we don't need to explicitly evangelize.

Of course, this doesn't work. Any number of people can be nice and caring without being  Christian. Christ makes it clear in the Gospels: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

In order for us to respond to the call of Christ we have to ask for the courage to be explicit about our faith. Living a good life is not enough. Everyone has different strengths and spiritual gifts, so maybe you are not personally called to go into the streets and talk to people about Jesus or to give a public talk at a youth group, but there is something specific that God is calling you to do. Maybe it is talking with a coworker or someone at the gym who has questions or maybe even someone on staff at the parish who needs some help. 

Let's pray today that we might realize how God is calling each of us to evangelize in our own way. Jesus has chosen us to be instruments of his love, peace, and mercy. Let's answer the call and preach the Gospel to all those we meet. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

By Tommy Shultz