Read after the Liturgy's Gospel
On Thursday, the First Week of the Great Lent
Includes an exhortation of priests to preach and educate.
Inspired by the Lord’s saying in the Holy Bible:"Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” [Mark 4: 21-29]
Priests are the ones entrusted with the believers, they are the shepherds of the sheep, the keepers of the Holy Law's order and those placed at the pastoral ranks. Why then are they negligent when it comes to their responsibilities – keeping themselves busy with other matters.They exert efforts to increase funds while fearing any disaster that may come their way or a loss they may incur.
What about you – father, the person whom God entrusted to be a shepherd, why are you found asleep and careless? Do you not care about what our Lord said, "So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ [Luke 16:2]. How can you not dread His power when you appear before Him like one who wasted money and was careless about His flock, and thus wasted his bag of treasures? How are you going flee from his anger when He says to those with a cruel heart: "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [Matthew 22:13].
Have not you heard about what the Bible had said about Jacob Israel when he had agreed to manage the flocks of his uncle Laban and how he put their best interests ahead of his own rest? He left the tasty food, he neglected his sleep and he toiled the night to stay awake in order to tend to his responsibilities. He remained this way until he restored the sheep to his uncle, and by that time they multiplied in number and they were in excellent health. [Genesis 29: 1-29 and 30: 25-36].
Jacob, the shepherd tired himself and endured in his life to care for the flock of sheep in a meticulous way as they grew and multiplied. He endured the hot weather of summer and the cold winter, as well as facing thieves and wild beasts. He cared for the wounded and the sick. He led the sheep to fertile lands and clear waters, while suffering so many ordeals. Keep in mind that the owner of this flock was neither a king nor a powerful person, only Jacob’s uncle Laban, the atheist pagan (Genesis 31)
What excuse then can those entrusted with guarding Jesus's flock give; those who neglect their sheep and do not care about the congregation. They leave them exposed to be devoured by the stealing wolves and the wild beasts, to be lost and go astray, to be stolen and looted? Although the owner is not a shepherd like Laban, He is not one of the mortals and His congregation is not a flock of animals bought for a price. He is the Lord of Lords and King of all kings and His congregation consists of human beings – paid for with the precious blood of Christ.
Listen to the Lord Almighty blaming those who have fallen as Prophet Ezekiel says: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”
‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”—therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I amagainst the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” God, the True Shepherd‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”[Ezekiel 34: 1-16].
Listen also to Him saying to the congregation: "‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”
‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad,therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.[Ezekiel 34: 17-23].
Therefore dear beloved, after reading about all these firm warnings, which God has given to the careless ones, never forget His words:“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5: 14-16] And do you, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed?” [Mark 21].We should wake up, pay attention, and preserve our good bag of treasures, so that we may be praised by Our Lord, may He be glorified forever, amen.
