Sheep Shepherds and Scrutiny: Exploring the Metaphors in Ezekiel, Corinthians, and Matthew

Julie South [00:00:01]:

You're listening to your Catholic corner?

Julie South [00:00:04]:

I'm your show host, Julie South. Your Catholic Corner helps Catholics spiritually prepare for each Sunday's Mass. Starting midweek each week, you can listen to your Catholic Corner@yourcatholiccorner.com. Today, we're uncovering the biblical gems hidden in the book of the prophet Ezekiel Paul's letter to the Corinthians and Matthew's Gospel in Catholic speak liturgically. We're in the 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time in Year A. To make it easier for you and for me to better understand the Bible, we'll have a look at what was going on at the time these passages were written. Because you can't apply 21st century context to something that's thousands of years old, we need some historical context. We'll listen to the passages, and then I'll share my insights and reflections on what God might be asking of us here in today's 21st century digital world.

Julie South [00:01:11]:

But before that, a quick word about.

Julie South [00:01:14]:

Your Catholic Corner, just in case. This is your first time here, regardless of where your are on your spiritual journey.

Julie South [00:01:21]:

Whether you've only just heard of that.

Julie South [00:01:23]:

Man called Jesus, your new to Catholicism, or you're a cradle Catholic, my prayer is that your Catholic corner will help bring God's word to life in your heart through insights, reflections and practical applications that help deepen your relationship with God. Every Thursday, we'll start preparing for Mass by uncovering the richness hidden in each Sunday's Bible readings from Old Testament prophecies to Gospel parables.

Julie South [00:01:53]:

I invite you to join me and.

Julie South [00:01:55]:

The parishioners of the Cathedral of the.

Julie South [00:01:57]:

Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Julie South [00:02:00]:

Sponsors of your Catholic Corner, so that together we can hear God's word and echo Samuel speak. Lord, your servant is listening.

Julie South [00:02:10]:

Now let's get back to today's show. Today we're praying and studying from the prophet Ezekiel paul's letter to the Corinthians and Matthew's Gospel. Technically, in Catholic speak, this is the last Sunday of Ordinary time in Year A. Next week is the beginning of the new liturgical year, year B and Advent, which means Christmas. Even though we're still in Ordinary Time, though, today is a very important feast day. It's the solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ the King. And just in case you're wondering, we won't be returning to Ordinary Time until the second Sunday of January, the 14 January, 2024. Christ the King feast day holds great significance and meaning in the Catholic Church.

Julie South [00:03:16]:

It's coming up for a major birthday. Pope Pius Xi established this feast day 98 years ago in 1925. Back then, much like today, the world was facing considerable upheaval, and people weren't being very Christian like at all. Pope Pius Xi's intention was to affirm the spiritual authority of Christ as paramount as King, rising above all and every earthly authority. He did this at a time when many governments were attempting to reduce and even eliminate the Church's influence in public life. In the aftermath of World War I, the world was in a state of flux. In italy, Mussolini's regime was on the rise, presenting challenges to the Church's autonomy. The Soviet Union under Stalin was pushing aggressively against religious expression.

Julie South [00:04:17]:

And in Germany, the early movements of what would become the Nazi Party were beginning to take shape. These regimes positioned themselves in direct opposition to religious institutions, including the Catholic Church. Pope Pius Xi's response was to issue an encyclical, a formal letter to bishops that outlines important Church teachings, this one named Quas Primus, which introduced the Feast of Christ the King. This letter, this encyclical emphasized the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life and was a clear stand against the rising tide of secularism. Additionally, the Pope also negotiated agreements, known as concordance with several governments to protect the rights of the Church and its ability to operate freely within those countries. However, not all of these agreements were honoured. For example, the one with Nazi Germany. As you can imagine, the Church sometimes found itself in some rather precarious positions during this time.

Julie South [00:05:27]:

Thus, the Feast of Christ the King was both a theological and a political statement. It called the faithful the equivalent of us, you and me of those times, to recognize a kingdom rooted in great spiritual and deep moral leadership. This type of leadership was in stark contrast to the often oppressive and dictatorial nature of those earthly powers at the time. It was also in direct contrast to what royalty and I'm using royalty in air quotes direct contrast to what royalty was meant to look like. There was nothing ostentatious, pompous or wealthy about how Jesus lived. But here was the Pope positioning Christ as the King. The Feast day was a call for unity and strength within the Church during a period of huge trials. Not much has really changed in the last 98 years when you think about it, has it? Back then, the world was in a state of flux because of World War I.

Julie South [00:06:31]:

Today, we're still in a state of flux as we fully emerge from the ravages of the global pandemic. The world is currently still at war, and there are still governments that make it outright illegal for their people to openly declare their Christian faith. For example, if you're a practicing Christian in countries like Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan and now even India, as a Christian, your life is at risk. So, as you can see today, the Feast of Christ the King still carries huge relevance. It's our reminder, your and mine, of the enduring spiritual leadership we have in our priests, our bishops, our cardinals and our Pope in a world where the role of faith and public life for some can still be challenged and condemned. As we celebrate this Feast each year, it's a time for us to reflect and consider Jesus'teachings and to reaffirm our commitment to living out those teachings in a world that's still conflicted, in a world where people are still killing each other in a world where people are still hungry and homeless. It's up to us to be Jesus'hands and feet in today's world. Which reminds me of the quote.

Julie South [00:07:56]:

I'm not sure if it's a hymn or a prayer by Sister Teresa of Avira. I'm sure you've heard it. It goes Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which the looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. I'm sure you know it. I found a beautiful video recording on YouTube.

Julie South [00:08:29]:

Here's an excerpt of it. I'll put the full clip for you on the website@yourcatholiccorner.com so you can watch it. It's absolutely beautiful.

Julie South [00:08:41]:

Christ has no body now but your, no hands, no feet on earth but your are the eyes with which he see. Yours are the feet with which he walks. Your are the hands with which he blessed all the world. Your Son.

Julie South [00:09:47]:

In the three Bible passages we have today ezekiel, chapter 34, paul's letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15, and Matthew's Gospel chapter 25, verses 31 to 46, we have sheep, lots and lots and lots of sheep. There's even sheep mentioned in today's responsorial Psalm as well, psalm 23, The Lord is my shepherd. So what's with all these sheep? Let's look specifically at the connecting thread first between Ezekiel and Matthew, the Old Testament passage and the New Testament passage. In Ezekiel chapter 34. The metaphor of sheep and shepherds is all about God's care and leadership. God is a shepherd, a shepherd who actively looks out for and rescues his flock. He wants to provide for their needs because they're important to him. He wants them to be safe.

Julie South [00:10:47]:

We've also got the analogy of God's judgment going on with the distinction between the different sheep. Here we've got the call to be accountable, where we're each individually accountable. All of that is going on within the sheep community, within our community. In chapter 25, this metaphor evolves to show the final judgment, where Jesus in this case referred to as the shepherd, separates people, the sheep and the goats, based on their actions. So what we've got is still personal responsibility and going on. The sheep are those who have been compassionate and served others, doing as Jesus would, reflecting his teachings, while on the other hand, the goats have failed to do any of that here. The sheep and the shepherd metaphor represents the expectation that Christians, Jesus'followers will actively embody will be the hands and the feet, embody the love and care that the shepherd has for his flock, that God has for us, that Jesus has for us. That's the overarching theme between the Old and the New Testament passages.

Julie South [00:12:11]:

Now, who was Ezekiel, the prophet Ezekiel, the passage from the Old Testament that we're looking at today, Ezekiel, lived during the 6th century BC. So quite a few thousand years plus ago, a pretty wild and chaotic period, especially marked by the decline of the Kingdom of Judah and the rise of the neo Babylonian empire. Ezekiel was around to witness the first deportation of Judeans to Babylon in 597 BC and was among the exiles himself. His ministry began during this time of exile, after Jerusalem had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar II. Other major events that took place during Ezekiel's time included the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon's Temple in 586 BC. Because of these major goings on, they shaped the messages of judgment and then restoration that are central to the book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible, in the Old Testament. Now let's look at Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Corinth sin city in the first century Ad.

Julie South [00:13:41]:

It was a place known for its lax morals, its lavish lifestyles, its wealth and its indulgence. Paul often addresses their unchristianlike ways in his letter. Remember, I keep making mention that Paul needs to have more full stops and commas in his letters. Well, today's letter is a perfect example of that. A couple of weeks ago, I said that Paul's letters were long winded because actually we discovered, we talked about that's how the Greeks spoke back then. Boy, today Paul uses a lot, as in a lot of words, when a few would do today. Anyway, he's written to the men and the women who live in the city of Corinth. Corinth was a wealthy port city, a major urban centre that was on the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece.

Julie South [00:14:35]:

Because it was a port, it was a major business centre. Its strategic port position enabled trade to take place between Asia and Rome. It was multicultural. There were Greeks, Romans, Jews and people from other parts of the Mediterranean. Because of all of these different types of cultures, along came different religions, a melting pot of different religions, in fact, including paganism, along with a significant, albeit small, Jewish community. Paul, in typical Paul fashion, uses long winded sentences today and lots of words, almost 200 of them. And this is what he's really saying. This is what it all boils down to.

Julie South [00:15:21]:

He's saying that everything leads back to God and through Jesus everything will be made right. Now, with all of that as the backdrop, let's listen to what God is saying to us through the prophet Ezekiel. Paul's letter to the Corinthians and Matthew's Gospel, a reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. The Lord says this I'm going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep. I myself will show them where to rest.

Julie South [00:16:33]:

It is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them. As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he goats. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man. And in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man.

Julie South [00:17:28]:

Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ, but all of them in their proper order, christ as the first fruits. And then after the coming of Christ, those who belong to Him after that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be King until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies will be destroyed as death. For everything is to be put under his feet. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God Mary be all in all. Matthew jesus said to his disciples when the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before Him, and he will separate men, one from another. As the shepherd separates sheep from goats, he will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

Julie South [00:18:59]:

Then the king will say to those on his right hand come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and your gave me drink. I was stranger and you made me welcome naked and your clothed me sick and you visited me in prison and you came to see me. The the virtuous will say to him in reply, lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome naked and clothe you sick or imprisoned, and go to see Your? And the King will answer, I tell you solemnly, insofar as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me. Next he will say to those on his left hand go away from me with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food. I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you never made me welcome naked and your never clothed me sick and in prison, and you never visited me.

Julie South [00:20:21]:

Then it will be their turn to ask Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to Your help? Then he will answer I tell you solemnly, insofar as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me, and they will go away to eternal punishment and the virtuous to eternal life. Sometimes it's not always easy to get how these Bible passages might be relevant thousands of years after they've been written. Remember, we started this episode introducing Pope Pius Xi's instigation of the Feast of Christ the King in 1925. Christianity was under threat on many fronts. In 1925, cars like the Ford Model T and the Studebagger were on the roads. We'd call them convertibles today. Back then, only the very wealthy could afford john Logie Baird had just invented the very first television. Jacob Schick painted the very first electric razor.

Julie South [00:21:53]:

Earl Dixon invented the very first Band Aid, the sticking plaster we use today. And Clarence Bird's Eye developed a method for quick freezing food, the pioneer of the frozen food industry that we have today. If Ezekiel, Paul and Matthew were alive in 1925 during the establishment of the Feast of Christ the King by Pope Pius Xi, what do your think they might say? Ezekiel might see the Feast as a reiteration of God's commitment to gather and protect his flock during a time when the world was going through great political and social upheavals, much like the exile of the Israelites were going through in his time. Paul might view the Feast as an announcement of the hope found in Christ's resurrection and a call to stand firm in faith, despite the era's growing secular ideologies that were challenging the Church. In Matthew, he might relate the Feast to the importance of service and righteousness. Maybe he'd see it as highlighting the need for social action and social justice, looking after the marginalized. All of this would align with the then Pope's emphasis on Christ's moral and spiritual authority over earthly powers. Maybe those three men would see the Feast as confirmation of God's sovereignty and care, jesus's victory over death, his call to serve others.

Julie South [00:23:25]:

Now let's fast forward 98 years, from then to now to today. If these men were alive today, maybe we'd hear them say the same things, but perhaps on YouTube. Or maybe they'd have a podcast like this, or a blog. They'd be influencers, one with honor and integrity. They'd be calling on the world's leaders to be responsible in their care for the vulnerable, to look after those who need looking after, to make sure no sheep fall by the wayside or get lost. Now, what can we do today to honor those men and to glorify God, you and me. What can we do? One thing we can do is put our hands up and help those who need helping. I'd therefore like to encourage you to think about being more active in your local parish.

Julie South [00:24:19]:

Most parishes that I know never have enough people to keep their ministries chugging along smoothly. It usually gets left to just a few, so it means that new hands are always welcome. You will be welcome. Life and living is about community. If you'd like to feel a more deeper connection with God and your local parish community the, please get in touch with your parish administrator or parish priest and ask them how you can best glorify God at your parish. And like we talked about last week as well, be able to share the gifts, your God given gifts, the gifts that God has given to you. The more you give, the more you get. Thank you for spending the last half an hour or so of your life with God, Ezekiel, Paul, Matthew and me.

Julie South [00:25:29]:

I pray that each of them has been able to make the difference God wishes for you today in their own way in your life. Thank you for getting this far. Can I ask you to do a huge favor, please? If you enjoyed today's show, can you please help me spread God's word about your Catholic corner? All you have to do is tell your friends and family about this podcast so they can hopefully benefit as well. Letting them know is really easy. Just invite them to visit yourcatholiccorner.com where they can subscribe and follow the show from there. It's free, it doesn't cost anything. Thank you. If you'd like to have a poster to put up on your parish's noticeboard about yourcatholiccorner.com, then please get in touch via yourcatholiccorner.com and I'll send you one to use wherever you are.

Julie South [00:26:26]:

I pray that God's glass of love overflows in your heart and in your life. And that when you're ready, you're able to accept God's invitation to you to join Him to share in Holy Communion this week at your local parish. Also, I pray that you'll be able to hear Samuel's words and say, speak, Lord, your servant is listening. And finally, I'd like to say thank you to the parishioners of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand, who helped me bring this podcast to you today. This is Julie South signing off until next week. Peace be with you. God bless.