There are many popular spiritual leaders in the world, especially with popularity of social media.
Anyone with a phone can instantly have a following. In some cases this can bring great light to the world, as the individual is blessed by God with an ability to inspire people.
However, the temptation for the leader, and for us, is to focus too much on the person, forgetting that he or she is only an instrument of God.
Reflection of Christ's light
St. Thomas Aquinas explains this temptation in an exposition on the Gospel of John:
Take heed: no one else is the gate but Christ. Others reflect his light, but no one else is the true light. John the Baptist was not the light, but he bore witness to the light. It is said of Christ, however: He was the true light that enlightens every man. For this reason no one says that he is the gate; this title is Christ's own.
It is very possible to follow a popular spiritual leader and for our faith to be tied to that person.
We can become obsessed with that person and only listen to what that person has to say.
The key is to recognize that these individuals only reflect the light of Christ and are not the source of the light.
Furthermore, only Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Every other shepherd of souls on earth is a reflection of Jesus:
[H]e has made others shepherds and given that office to his members; for Peter was a shepherd, and so were the other apostles and all good bishops after them. Scripture says: I shall give you shepherds according to my own heart. Although the bishops of the Church, who are her sons, are all shepherds, nevertheless Christ refers only to one person in saying: I am the Good Shepherd, because he wants to emphasize the virtue of charity. Thus, no one can be a good shepherd unless he is one with Christ in charity. Through this we become members of the true shepherd.
Our faith needs to be rooted in Christ and not in an individual. That individual is human and could fall, leaving us confused as to what to do.
When our faith is based on the source of the light, we will be able to endure any storm in life.
