2 minute read
One Flock
Reason-endowed sheep
This is what St. John Chrysostom called the faithful. I was raised in the rural American South (where there are plentiful pigs, cows, and chickens, but few sheep), so I looked up what it is about sheep that caused this phrase to make sense for St. John’s audience.
Turns out sheep are herd animals, most comfortable with other sheep. A sheep usually doesn’t get into trouble unless it gets separated from the flock. Also, sheep are docile, mellow animals — who ever heard of attack sheep? Finally, sheep need a shepherd to keep them from wandering off and getting into trouble. Leaderless sheep rarely survive.
I used to wonder, “Why sheep? They seem so wimpy.” I preferred the image of a lion or an athlete. But, truth be told, it is the humility of sheep that allows them to live so peacefully in community. Unfortunately, we so often insist on our own way and our own importance how very different from the attitude of our Lord Jesus who, as God, humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross. His very humility and selflessness became the source of our healing and new life.
God refuses to force you to humble yourself. Oh, He may allow your choices to place you in humbling situations, but even that can be resisted. Acquiring humility is up to us. If we are willing to be simple, reason-endowed sheep, we tap into heavenly resources that fuel spiritual growth. Conversely, our stubborn insistence on our rights will only guarantee that we will be enslaved by our anger, depression, and pride. How’s that working out for us?
Today: Are you willing to be a simple sheep in Christ’s flock? Look at the many invitations of faith offered in this life of community. Frequent liturgies, times of prayer, seasons of fasting and feasting, the lives of the saints, Holy Scripture, and Holy Tradition guide and instruct us. The Shepherd is leading His flock to paradise; He will give you the strength to be a humble, reason-endowed sheep in the flock of Christ.
