Yes, your Eminence?

As the Holy Father himself observed, today's Feast of the Chair of Peter was "a particularly appropriate day" for announcing a Consistory because Cardinals "have the duty to help and support Peter's Successor in carrying out the apostolic task entrusted to him in the service of the Church."

One might also observe a certain appropriateness connected with today’s first reading (1 Peter 5:1-4) – and not only because of its Petrine origin.

Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing 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.

It seems perfect as an exhortation to humility for those soon to be called “Eminence.”

However, these words are not only for the crimson-robed and other lofty ecclesiastical personages.

Many of us may consider ourselves eminent in our own ways – and sometimes not without some justification.

Even those of us who blog should take these words to heart, remembering that what we do in our Christian blogs should be consistent with the right tending of the flock of God in the midst of cyberspace.

Likewise in the real world of our parishes, communities, and families, many of us may be relatively “eminent” by virtue of our additional education, knowledge, experience, devotion, or involvement.

We may not be eminent shepherds, but we may be eminent sheep dogs in our own ways and thus may Peter say to us:

Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing 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.