Cracking the Whip

I suppose all it takes is a little leadership modeling.

What a delight this week has been: first the Sacramentum Caritatis, then the Sobrino Notification, and now the US Bishops are actually fulfilling their sacramental duties!

Big Ben has been putting the smackdown on heresy since 1981, which is why we're such fans. And now that he's knocked our socks off, he's inspired the US Bishops to defend the faith, to use their crosiers for their intended purpose.

This morning, I had the unique experience of watching two young cattle train to be a pull-team together. The farmer had built a makeshift yoke and was leading them up and down the road, teaching them the commands "haw!" and "gee!" which mean left and right, respectively. In order to do this effectively, he was employing a reed-whip with which he would nip them on the snout when they did not follow the commands correctly.

If it had been anyone else, they would have called the SPCA. But I was in total admiration. I admire parents who can keep their children from misbehaving, such a rare sight nowadays. I love it when a teacher can get his students to excel because he has won their respect. And I love it when a bishop tells someone they're outta line.

The Good Shepherd uses his staff to pull sheep from danger or waywardness, hence the hook shape. It's been proclaimed before and it will be proclaimed again: