A: Solemnity of Christ the King (22 Nov 2020) - BROWSERS OR GRAZERS? (Ezek 34:11-12, 15-17)

“As for you, my sheep, says the Lord God, I will judge between rams and goats” (Ezek 34:17).

There are two things that are significant in this biblical passage. First is that the prophet refers to God’s people as his sheep, but so vulnerable that they need God as their shepherd to guide them, otherwise they face the perennial danger of being lost and be preys to the beasts (vv. 11-16). The prophet makes it clear that God is their true shepherd, in contrast to an incompetent and selfish one who only thinks of himself, i.e., who only “consumed milk, wore wool, and slaughtered fatlings, but the flock [are] not pastured” (v. 3). Rather, God is a responsible, caring, and sacrificing leader who even protects and fights for the sheep, snatching them out from the opportunistic handling of evil shepherds (vv. 7-10). Hence, if the sheep will only focus on God’s lead, there should be no fear of being led into perdition.

Second is that God will judge everybody by separating rams from goats (vv. 17, 22). What is evident here is that the duty of maintaining order in the sheepfold does not rely on the shepherd alone, rather, the sheep should make the conscientious effort of keeping their identity as sheep, and not being turned into goats by their uncharacteristic behaviors. Ezekiel illustrates it well with the imageries of rams and goats. Rams are mature he-goats as oppose to the ewes, the she-goats. While sheep may be easily distinguishable from goats, rams are not since they have more resemblances with the latter. Yet, both can still be differentiated with a strict scrutiny.

In terms of their physiological features, rams and goats can be separated by their two main peculiarities. Whereas goats have pointed horns, rams have circular ones. As goats use the sharp edges of their horns for defense, rams use instead the force generated from their rounded horns to batter an ensuing enemy (hence, the word battering ram in ancient wars to break through city gates or walls). Another difference is their coatings. Whereas the goats have thin outer layers, the rams have furs that can cover the whole of their bodies. These furs are significantly turned into wool and can be beneficial in the textile industry.

While both animals are distinguishable, it will take an observant shepherd to do so, since, from a distance, they can easily be mistaken from one another, especially when they are both of similar color and at their tender years. The key in differentiating them easily, though, is by looking at their basic behaviors. Rams, and so are sheep in general, are usually grazers, which means that they tend to stay on one place—together with each other—as it is the most feasible way of surviving any impending attack. In other words, their collectivity is their main strength. Meanwhile, goats have the tendency to be browsers, as they largely love to explore their surroundings, looking for new rich verdures to feed on, and are not attuned to being domesticated in a flock. Once a beast comes, they rely only on their horns to drive it off or they run away as fast as they can to escape. Thus, their strength lies on their own skills alone.

In light of Ezekiel’s prophecy, we as sheep are part of God’s herd. Yet, not only is our confidence in him as our shepherd emphasized, our innate trust to one another is inferentially called for. Our community can be our source of strength, too, and this analogy should be our guiding principle to survive and thrive in life. Succinctly, we both need God and each other. In contrast, being goat-like with individualism can be very counterproductive. By avoiding belongingness to a community, one relies on one’s own capacity to succeed life’s ordeals, with others (and even God) not being tapped for help or valued. But as predators are always wily, cunning, and formidable, not even the strongest goat can ever repel them by itself alone.

We, thus, put our trust on both God, our shepherd, and to the flock we belong to in our perilous journey on earth, especially amidst the pandemic that continues to beleaguer our world today.

- Rex Fortes, CM