Sheep Without a Shepherd Throughout the Ages

A passage from the Gospel of Matthew shows Jesus “moved with pity” over the crowds of people that had come to see him, perhaps because the vast majority may have come more out of curiosity than for healing.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38).

There was an abundance of “sheep” who were “troubled and abandoned,” with no laborers readily available to shepherd them. In a modern-day setting, the scene could be imagined as an evangelistic crusade in a stadium with a capacity crowd, and only a handful of ministers to accommodate them.

The Battle of Earthly Life

Prior to Vatican II, taking care of the faithful was primarily the province of priests and religious. The lay faithful, accounting for over 99% of the Catholic population, were not able to contribute much in the area of formal ministry. The spiritual care and feeding of the flock were primarily accomplished by the clergy, leaving day-to-day life to be worked out in the “domestic church” that is the home. The battle of earthly life fought alone and without spiritual guidance can easily be overwhelming. As The Good Shepherd gazed lovingly on the crowds, he foresaw the need for many disciples to serve as “laborers for his harvest.”

The troubles associated with daily life in ancient Palestine were not too dissimilar to the problems of today. The basic needs of food and shelter, along with the threat of sickness and disease have been a common denominator in earthly existence throughout the centuries. Jesus knew, both then and now, that a yoke of some kind must be borne in life, and that true rest can only be found in Him. The following words are as applicable now as they were when Jesus spoke them:

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

The Need For Shepherds

Modern life presents a dizzying array of distractions that have grown exponentially to the point of almost reaching critical mass. Now, more than ever, there is a need for laborers in God’s harvest to shepherd the flock. After Vatican II, Lay Ecclesial Ministry formally came into being as a means for lay participation in the mission of the Church. The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity states:

The most holy council, then, earnestly entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer gladly, nobly, and promptly the more urgent invitation of Christ in this hour and the impulse of the Holy Spirit. Younger persons should feel that this call has been directed to them especially and they should respond to it eagerly and generously. Through this holy synod, the Lord renews His invitation to all the laity to come closer to Him every day, recognizing that what is His is also their own (Philippians 2:5), to associate themselves with Him in His saving mission. Once again He sends them into every town and place where He will come (cf. Luke 10:1) so that they may show that they are co-workers in the various forms and modes of the one apostolate of the Church, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of our times (Apostolicam Actuositatem 33).

The Marching Orders

The mission of the church, to “make disciples of all nations,” started with the eleven that witnessed the Ascension, and has been handed down to multiple generations until the present day. God has indeed provided shepherds for His flock by Baptism into Christ and the life of the Church. The pericope known as the “Great Commission” contains the “marching orders” for all of God’s shepherds, and has served as a fitting template for discipleship throughout the ages:

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:16-20)