Sheep or Goat?

Being free has its difficulties. As free human beings, regardless of various laws and social mores, we are free to live as we wish. Sure, there might be consequences if our behavior does not fall in line with sanctioned choices. Sure, we might become outcasts if we choose a life those around us do not endorse. Despite the voices around us, our lives are free to live as we choose. That is the divine gift of God.

It was explained to me by a shepherd once why it is impossible to keep sheep and goats in the same pen. Sheep will graze the tops leaves of grass, leaving the grass to grow fresh greens. Goats will eat even the roots leaving the ground bear. Sheep will follow the voice of their shepherd. Goats will ‘do as they please’ despite the voice around them. Having both in the same pen is akin to chaos.

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”

John 10.1-16

Today the Church commemorates the memory of Saint Photios the Great. He was a great teacher and leader of the Church. As with other ‘bishop saints’ the Church has set aside this reading to lift of Saint Photios as our Shepherd, whose voice the Church has been listening to for more than a thousand years. His ministry was not without difficulty, as he was at the center of political controversy between Rome and Constantinople. Nonetheless, his teachings have stood the test of time.

But, enough about history. What about today? We are asked by the Church to consider our lives as sheep, and the Fathers of the Church as our shepherds. Look closely at today’s reading and you will see the issue has been reversed. We are indeed sheep with Christ as our Shepherd, but we are faced with the possibility that false teachers are calling our names. As true sheep of Christ, we must not listen to their voices. We must not follow their call. The false teachers are thieves and robbers. Their only goal is to kill and scatter us from the Church.

Unfortunately, many of us live more like goats than sheep. Not only do we ignore the voices of false teachers, we ignore the voice of the shepherd. Many of us live free without a care about whose voice is calling us. I wonder sometimes if it is worse to be a goat than a sheep fooled by a false shepherd.

Since yesterday was the first day of the Triodion, it is a good time to remember our roll as sheep and our spiritual father’s role as shepherd. Our spiritual father lays his life down for us, and we know his voice. Since he knows our struggles, he calls us and we can trust him and follow him.

Don’t let too many days of the Triodion get by you without contacting your spiritual father. He will help you set your path for the next ten weeks. The voices of strangers outside the Church, and some inside the Church, will try to distract you. Ignore their voices. Use your freedom to follow Christ and His Church, instead of your own way.