This evening Fr. Gabriel will be back with us and will lead us through Hebrews 4:14-6:20. The theme of this reading is Jesus Christ as our High Priest. Please read this passage. At the end of chapter 6, notice when the writer invokes the three great theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. The writer applies these virtues to Abraham, and through Abraham to Jesus, and through Jesus to us. The promise made by God to Abraham cited by the writer occurs as a result of Abraham’s perfect obedience in the sacrifice of Isaac. The intended Jewish audience of the letter would know from where the promise to Abraham arose, and would thereby understand the immediate connection the writer was drawing between Jesus and Isaac. If you have time today, please read the story of the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19. At the very end of chapter 6, the writer also references the sacrifice of the scapegoat in the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Under the Mosaic Law, it was the scapegoat that bore the uncleanliness, transgressions, and sins of the entire community. The High Priest’s sacrifice of the goat thereby redeemed the entire community. If you have time today, please read the ritual for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. When we say that Jesus is our Great High Priest, we see him as fulfilling both roles of the priestly sacrifice – priest and victim. He is Abraham and Isaac, Aaron and the scapegoat.
Dinner is at 6. Menu is Asian fusion. Discussion about 6:45. Hope to see you here.
Alleluia! King eternal
W.C. Dix (1866), 1979 Hymnal 460
Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary,
Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered,
Robed in flesh our great high priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim
In the Eucharistic feast.