It is not without meaning that the Church is always likened to a shepherd and a flock: Christ and the believers, the priest and the parishioners. Why is there a need for a shepherd? Because there are wolves out there, and the sheep are always in danger! Without wolves there would be no need for a shepherd, the sheep would roam freely and carelessly. So we can see that the main purpose of a shepherd is to guard the sheep from wolves and to watch for any dangers. When he sees the danger, he stirs the flock to safety. But what if the shepherd won’t admit there are wolves and can’t recognize any danger facing the flock?
How do you know there is something seriously wrong in your flock?
When the shepherd can’t see any danger facing the flock, and even dismisses a sheep that dares to say something is wrong.
When the shepherd and the arch-shepherd appear to be in a contradiction in the eyes of the sheep, where behind the scenes they work together towards achieving the same plan of selling the flock.
When the shepherd is telling everybody else privately that you are an extremist if you dare to express your concern, and when he does alike with everyone like you.
When the shepherd keeps telling you how good you are when he talks to you directly, but tells a completely different story to other sheep in private.
When the shepherd curses his sheep rather than bless them, and rules them by fear rather than love.
When a shepherd hires some of the sheep to spy on the other sheep, telling them it is for the good of the flock.
When a shepherd turns sheep against each other.
When a shepherd wants to know detailed information about you, your wife, your addresses and telephone numbers, where you work … everything
When a shepherd threatens a sheep or her closed ones (or any other sheep that is considered of being somehow related) with illness, broken families or worse due to “disobediance”.
When the shepherd wants to transform the Church in a fee-based membership club.
When the shepherd wants to take over the Church Council, asks their members to take an oath of loyalty to himself or the institution he represents, and “advises” the members that it would be good to keep the decisions of the Council secret …
To be continued …
Where have we heard all that before? Yes, under communism! But apparently it is very hard for those that lived through it to even recognize it, let alone those that only heard about it in Hollywood movies …
