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From: 1 Peter 5:1-4
To Priests
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Commentary:
1-4. In many New Testament text, the Greek terms “presbyteros” and “episcopos” mean the same, being used indiscriminately to designate pastors of local communities (cf., e.g., Acts 11:30; 20:28; and notes on same). From the second century on, the terminology became fixed: “episcopoi” (bishops) have the fullness of the sacrament of Order and are responsible for local churches; “presbyteroi” (elders, later designated as priests) carry out the priestly ministry as co-workers of the bishops. The Acts of the Apostles tell us that Paul and Barnabas ordained priests in the various churches of Asia Minor (cf. Acts 14:23), to which St Peter is now writing (1 Pet 1:1).
The Prince of the Apostles here addresses them formally. Although he refers to himself as one of them—a “fellow elder [priest]”—he is distinguishing himself as a witness of the sufferings of Christ and “a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed” (this is possibly an allusion to the Transfiguration, at which he was given a foretaste of that glory: cf. Mt 17:1ff; 2 Pet 1:16-18).
St Peter’s exhortation (vv. 2-3) recall those of our Lord when he spoke about the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1ff) and when he told Peter after the Resurrection, “Feed my lambs....Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17). The Magisterium of the Church has often drawn inspiration from these words when reminding pastors of their duties: “As to the faithful, they (the priests) should bestow their paternal attention and solicitude on them, whom they have begotten spiritually through baptism and instruction (cf. 1 Cor 4:15; 1 Pet 1:23). Gladly constituting themselves models of the flock (cf. 1 Pet 5:3), they should preside over and serve their local community in such a way that it may deserve to be called by the name which is given to the unique People of God in its entirety, that is to say, the Church of God (cf. Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:21; and passim). They should be mindful that by their daily conduct and solicitude they display the reality of a truly priestly and pastoral ministry both to believers and unbelievers alike, to Catholics and non-Catholics; that they are bound to bear witness before all men of the truth and of the life, and as good shepherds seek after those too (cf. Lk 15:4-7) who, whilst having been baptized in the Catholic Church, have given up the practice of the sacraments, or even fallen away from the faith” (”Lumen
Gentium”, 28; cf. No. 41).
If they approach their responsibilities in this way, they will have no reason to fear the Judgment (v. 4); the Lord will make himself present to them as “the chief Shepherd”, whom they have tried to imitate in their care of the flock, and they will receive “the unfading crown of glory” (cf. note on Jas 1:12). “When the moment comes for them to enter God’s presence, Jesus will go out to meet them. He will glorify forever those who have acted on earth in his Person and in his name. He will shower them with that grace of which they have been ministers” (J. Escriva, “In Love with the Church”, 50).
3. St Gregory the Great teaches that the pastor of souls “should always give the lead, to show by his example the way to life, so that his flock (who follow the voice and the actions of the pastor) are guided more by example than by words; his position obliges him to speak of elevated things, and also to manifest them personally; the word more easily gains access to the hearts of hearers when it carries with it the endorsement of the life of him who when giving instructions assists in their fulfillment by his own example” (”Regulae Pastoralis Liber”, 2, 3).