Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. — Zechariah
“Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” — Zechariah 11:17 NIV
Reflection
There are some situations in which passing judgment on others is warranted, despite the fact that it is never pleasant to be on the receiving end of unfavorable information and that we dislike being the ones who do so. Jesus is not just the lamb that was sacrificed for us, but he is also the Chief Shepherd over us.
When the earthly shepherds who are responsible for his flock fail to lead them in a trustworthy manner, he will exact severe judgment. All those in positions of authority should take this as a stern warning to lead with integrity and compassion. Those who have been mistreated by leaders who do not follow God should take solace in the fact that God will bring about due punishment for those who have misused the stewardship that comes with their pastoral calling. In the end, God will wipe away our tears even if our earthly shepherds are unable to do so.
My Prayer
I am grateful to the Lord, my Shepherd, for always leading, directing, and providing for me. To shepherd your sheep and to lead us with the heart of Jesus, please cultivate leaders of conscience, courage, and compassion inside the Church and ask them to serve as shepherds. If you are able to make use of me in this way, my Father, I pray that you will do so in order to bless your people and to serve them with your heart for them. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of my soul. Amen.