Antiphona 5

'Ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum' (Matthew 10:16) comes from Christ's missionary discourse sending the Twelve to Israel. The image reverses natural order: sheep normally flee wolves, but these sheep are sent directly into the pack. The 'alleluia' appended (in Paschaltide) transforms this warning into triumph - the Lamb who was slain has conquered, and His sheep share His victory. At Vespers, as night falls and spiritual wolves prowl, this antiphon assures the Christian that being sent as a sheep among wolves is not defeat but mission in the pattern of the Lamb.