Both the readings give us a picture of what 'self-centeredness' is all about. Ezekiel describes the shepherds as being concerned about their own needs and thus neglecting their duties and their responsibilities. Similarly, the complaint of the earliest workers in the gospel points to their self-centredness.

This is the same scenario in our world today, in which we become so self-centered, being obsessed with accumulating even more wealth, that we too forget our duties and responsibilities to the persons around us. We give our children expensive toys and clothes that simply cannot make up for the time that they would rather have with us. Elders are sent to homes or cared for by maids again because we need to follow our own dreams.

Contrast this with the image of the Good Shepherd who painstakingly seeks out the lost sheep. Our psalm today also points to the Lord as shepherd who takes care of our every need. Perhaps today we are receiving a 'wake-up' call in terms of the persons for whom we are responsible. Rather than being self-centred, may we learn to be self-giving. Rather than 'seeing, hearing and saying no evil' and closing our hearts to the realities around us let us allow the Good Shepherd to guide us safely 'home'.