as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing it not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
REFLECTION
Tend the flock of God in your midst
What a beautiful exhortation of St. Peter to the presbyters!...
Imagine him, as an old man, writing this letter. And in these short passages giving gentle but firm advise to the leaders of the early Church. To be good shepherds of the flock. And they will receive their just reward.
And a few passages down, St. Peter reminds the younger members to listen to the presbyters, to be humble when dealing with one another.
What a wonderful shepherd he must have been: caring for every single person in the Church!
Let us pray the PAPA Prayer for Priestespecially for our Holy Father, the Cardinals, Bishops, and Religious superiors. That they can also be good leaders of the priests entrusted in their care and can lead by holiness and example.
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