Wednesday, August 17, 2022

 

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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

A veteran priest told the story of his uncle who thought it was a good idea that he enter the seminary.  The uncle explained that as a priest the youth would receive three square meals a day and only have to work on weekends.  Most priests work much harder than that, but a few are lazy.  To chastise self-serving pastors Ezekiel utters a strong prophecy in today’s first reading.

Ezekiel does not have only priests in mind but political as well as other religious leaders.  He criticizes them for not directing the people to God but using their office to profit themselves.  As a result of pastoral negligence, the people have forsaken the Lord.  They turn to false gods -- whether pagan deities or created pleasures – for solace.  Of course, God cannot tolerate such malpractice.

Each of us should see herself or himself as a shepherd.  Few of us are priests with parishioners, but many are parents with children to guide.  Others may be workers with responsibility for those under their care.  All of us are members of the community of faith with at least some responsibility to show our friends the ways of God.  We must take care of one another so that we all reach our destiny of eternal life.