THE KIND OF LEADERS WE NEED

XVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Jeremiah 23:1-6

Since long ago, the figure of the shepherd has been used as a model for the leaders and rulers of the people, be it religious or political. And so Jeremiah’s criticism against the shepherds is a criticism of the leaders of the people.  A true shepherd, who is in charge of his flock, must take good care of the sheep, leading them to good pastures and refreshing waters. He must keep them healthy and well-fed, without suffering from the fierce heat of the sun or from heavy thunderstorms. In dangerous times, he must lead them to the sheepfold and provide them with food. While in the open countryside, he must keep them together, being attentive to the stray one, so that she does not get lost. And he must protect the flock from the fierce animals that are always lurking in the shadows to catch and kill the sheep. The shepherd’s life must be at the service of the sheep. However, the rulers of Israel are only concerned with their personal welfare; they do not care for the well-being of their people. They abandon them and they remain on their own, disperse and defenceless. Worse still, feeling trumped upon and oppressed, the sheep get scattered. Those leaders lived off the people. And so God will call them to account and take their positions from them and then He himself will take care of his people and choose shepherds according to his heart, who will “practise honesty and integrity in the land”.

In this Sunday’s gospel, we see Jesus as the one who came to fulfil that promise and to be that shepherd who takes good care of his people. And this is made clear with two incidents: first, Jesus cares for his disciples and sees that they have time for rest and for reflection; second, seeing the crowds coming to him, he realises that they “were like sheep without a shepherd”, scattered and lost, without anybody to gather them and give them direction. And Jesus, having “pity on them”, “set himself to teach them at some length.”