The Good Shepherd Sends Shepherds

The risen Christ tells Peter to feed his sheep, and so he fulfills his own promise, "I will feed my sheep." In the sending forth of the apostles and  their called and ordained successors, Jesus continues his own work, his own shepherding.  This is the meaning embedded in his Great Commission: when he says "I am with you always," he means that he is with the apostolic messengers as the active one in their ministry to  the flock of God. The mystery of the Office of the Holy Ministry is this, that in it Christ is actively washing, comforting, and feeding his sheep. He thus tends his flock today, and in no other way. The 23rd Psalm is everyone's favorite, but it must be understood that the only way the Lord is my shepherd is through the ministry of his pastors. The entire Misericordias Domini Mass may be viewed on YouTube, here, and  the audio of the sermon is also available here.