Flock of Sheeple?

From the Catholic Liturgy for the 4^th Sunday of Easter, May 7, 2017. John 10:1-10. Christ is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. Sheep & shepherds were very familiar sight to the people of Jesus’ time. We might think it’s kind of cute to be compared to wooly soft & cuddly animals but, you see, it is not really a compliment to call us sheep. It's a reality check in humility and truth.  It tells us why we need a Good Shepherd. You see, the people listening to Jesus 2,000 years ago knew that sheep were dumb, directionless, and defenseless and so are we when it comes to knowing what is really good for us in order to be reasonable happy here on planet earth and then infinitely happy with God forever in Heaven.

First, sheep are dumb - they will follow their leader into oblivion.  We are, by nature, sheep-people. Or, as a brand new word in the dictionary puts it: sheeple. Sheeple describes those who follow the crowd, who give in to popular opinion or influence without critical thinking, no matter what the outcome might be in the long-run.  And every single one of us, because of the effects of original sin upon our human nature, can easily become sheeple.

Second, since sheep are dumb they are also directionless. That's why shepherds use sheep dogs. These dogs keep the flock together and make sure that the sheep who are in the lead are going in the right direction. Christ gives us “sheep-dogs” in the ministry of the pope, the bishops, parish priests and deacons, parents, and of the parish as a good Christian community. These give us direction and keep us going on the right path so that we do not stray and find ourselves separated from the flock.

Lastly, the dumb directionless sheep are among the most defenseless of animals. Sheep don't fight, they do not have fangs or claws.  Sheep cannot run fast at all, they kind of ramble along. Sheep have no threatening look or growl to scare away predators.  But today’s Gospel doesn’t focus on animal predators, it warns us about thieves and robbers who often tried to break into the corral or pen at night. Back in the day, a good shepherd would protect his sheep by rolling out his sleeping mat across the sheep-gate, the entrance, so that if anyone tried to take them, they would first have to go through him. And isn’t that exactly what Jesus did for us?  He laid himself down, laid down his life, on the wood of the cross and gave himself up for our eternal safety and well-being.

Let’s pray for the humility to acknowledge that if we are not careful, if we do not cling to the Good Shepherd and follow his voice, we can easily become sheeple, living like dumb, directionless and defenseless sheep. Let’s turn to our Blessed Mother, in this month of May especially dedicated to her, and place ourselves under her protection, because she is the Mother of the Good Shepherd and loves us, his sheep, with all her heart.