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I thought the reading from the Original Testament today was very interesting. The reading from Jeremiah certainly is closely linked to the Year of the Priest, as recently proclaimed by Pope Benedict. The message to the Church is very clear. I am sure as priests prepared their sermons for Mass, they took special care to heed the message. The scripture focuses on bad leadership but also followership. On the surface, it is clear but can we dig deeper? What about our leaders who are not commenting on worldly things? What about those that avoid the difficult topics from the pulpit? What about those that divide the world into the spiritual and earthly? Do they not also intend to "destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture"? Are we as followers called by God to be "shepherds over them who will care for them"? Are you allowing yourself to be led down the wrong path? Are you part of the flock that is being scattered? The devil loves it when we do his work for him. The Church is called to be prayerful, righteous, and diligent. We must pray our leaders right. Jeremiah 23:6 concludes, "The Lord is our righteousness."

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