Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Wolves and Sheep

today's Mass readings: i.e. Acts 20:28-38  Paul to the disciples at Ephesus: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them."  And John 17:11b-19: Jesus' prayer for his disciples: " I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One."
How many times in the Scriptures  is the imagery of sheep or flock used to depict the followers of Jesus, (who presents himself as the good shepherd) and how many times  is the imagery of wolves use to depict their worst enemy, the Evil one?  Does the contemporary multicultural, non judgmental mentality really recognize that much of the culture around us and to be concrete, many of the people around us are anything but helpful to true discipleship?  When are we going to wake up to the fact that we can't spend our lives floating along with the currents of contemporary mores and still honestly call ourselves followers of Christ?  What does it mean to be "...in the world, but not of the world"?