Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is an old quotation that says, “When the cat is away, the mice will play!” This expression also pertains to the reality in the workplace that when the boss is away, the rest of the employees relax their duties and responsibilities. Thus, most bosses put someone in charge to keep everyone in check while they are away. This also happens at home. When parents are away, they put someone in charge, either the babysitter or the eldest child, so that the house will be in order while they are away.
The Israelites were once like this. But God did not fall short in keeping the house of Israel in order. He designated the prophets, judges, and kings to tend to them. It was the leaders who fell short. The kings of Israel had a divine obligation to keep the flock tended, just as a shepherd tends his sheep. However, because of their greed for power, they kept aligning themselves with the pagan rulers. Even the religious leaders in Jesus' time were entrusted with keeping the peace while practicing their religion. They did not want their tradition to be taken away from them because of civil disturbances coming from the Jewish people, so they kept their actions safe from the Roman authorities.
Yet, Jesus does not want this to happen to His followers. He established the Twelve Apostles as His vicars here on earth, especially when the time came for Him to return to His Heavenly Father. Such authority and responsibilities of the Apostles are handed down to the bishops, the shepherds of the Church. They are the direct successors of the vicars of Christ. So, let us trust the Pope and the bishops to bring us to the Kingdom of God.
Blessings to all.
Fr. Leo Ayuyao, SSS
