21. Пастух и стадо

We see in this world that people entrust livestock to shepherds in order to graze and protect it. Likewise, the sheep of Christ, Christians, are entrusted by Christ the Lord to shepherds, bishops and priests in order to be shepherded and protected. Shepherds are selected from the entire village or village to graze their livestock. Likewise, pastors, bishops and elders are elected from the Church to shepherd Christian souls. The shepherds are chosen to be kind and reasonable so that the livestock is not destroyed. Likewise, shepherds must be chosen who are good and wise, so that they do not destroy Christ’s verbal sheep, so that what is written on them does not come true: “If a blind man leads a blind man, then both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). The shepherds drive their cattle out onto the field, onto grass and good pasture, and graze them there. Shepherds must feed the sheep of Christ with the Word of God and the Holy Mysteries. Shepherds take care of their flock and protect it from wolves and other animals. Likewise, shepherds must protect and protect the flock of Christ’s sheep from the devil, demons, heretics, and other spiritual beasts. Shepherds search for cattle that have wandered away from the herd and drive them into the herd. Likewise, shepherds must look for a lost Christian and convert him to the flock of Christ. Every Christian who does not live like a Christian is mistaken. Shepherds drive their flock from the field to their owners' houses. Likewise, shepherds must send the flock of Christ’s sheep from this world into the heavenly fence; so that later, when they appear, they themselves say: “Here I am and Your sheep, which You gave me, Lord!” Shepherds receive payment from their owners for their work, for grazing livestock. Likewise, the shepherds from Christ the Lord will receive payment from Christ the Lord for their labors and for shepherding His flock, “an unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). Among the shepherds, if some cattle is not brought into the house, the owners ask: “Where is my such and such cattle?” So from the shepherds, if any Christian dies and does not appear in the heavenly fence, Christ the Lord will ask: “Where is my such and such sheep? Where is the sheep that I acquired not with silver and gold, but with My Blood? Where is the sheep that you took in to feed and keep?” The shepherd cannot say to the owner: “I don’t know where,” because he was the guardian of the flock. Likewise, the shepherd cannot say to Christ the Lord: “I don’t know where the sheep are,” because he was a watchman of the flock of Christ (See Eze. 34:8-31). For the loss of livestock, the owner deprives the shepherd of payment. So the shepherd is deprived of payment from Christ for the destruction of the verbal sheep and is given up as punishment. The shepherd is not guilty, if not because of his negligence, but in some other way the cattle will die. So the shepherd will be innocent when a Christian dies not because of his negligence and oversight, but because of his negligence and self-will, that is, if the shepherd taught him, instructed him, admonished him and showed him an example of good deeds, but he, his shepherd, did not listen. The herd of cattle obeys the shepherds, so it goes where it is driven. Likewise, Christians must obey their shepherds and do what they teach, according to the apostolic exhortation: “Obey your teachers and be submissive, for they watch vigilantly for your souls, as those who are obliged to give an account; so that they do this with joy, and not with groaning” (Heb. 13:17). Shepherd! Remember that you are the keeper of the flock of Christ's sheep. People! Listen to what Christ says about shepherds who teach but do not do: “The scribes and Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses. So whatsoever they command you to observe, observe and do; But do not do what they do, for they say and do not do” (Matthew 23:2-3). You might be interested in: