Ordinary 16
The topic is "shepherding". Jeremiah speaks about the false shepherds. God promises to shepherd his people. Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Jeremiah speaks about "Woe to the shepherds who misled and sactter. . ." We speak of shepherding as pastoral care. Often we use the narrow idea that pastoral care is fulfilling the Corporal Works of Mercy. That is true, but there is more. There are also the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Instructing the ignorant and admonishing the sinner are places where we can easily compromise. Is compromise true pastoral care?
The problem presents itself in terms of: I don't want to chase them away, so I go slowly and tread softly. Do I ever get to say what they need to hear?
Jeremiah speaks about "Woe to the shepherds who misled and sactter. . ." We speak of shepherding as pastoral care. Often we use the narrow idea that pastoral care is fulfilling the Corporal Works of Mercy. That is true, but there is more. There are also the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Instructing the ignorant and admonishing the sinner are places where we can easily compromise. Is compromise true pastoral care?
The problem presents itself in terms of: I don't want to chase them away, so I go slowly and tread softly. Do I ever get to say what they need to hear?
posted by Father Patrick at
9:04 AM
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