Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 314

For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,

but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,

appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Whether we speak of priests or legislators or teachers or parents, we know they are "subject to weakness." They have been placed in positions of authority and we must respect them; or, if that is too difficult, we must respect their office. We rise when the priest enters the church; the judge, the chamber; and the president, the press briefing room regardless of our personal dislike or displeasure with that person.

But we always know the office deserves better and we deserve better. If the person entering the room to take an important position is a criminal we feel a rising gorge of disgust. But even if it is someone we love and admire, we know this person is standing in for the One who is worthy of our entire confidence and unquestioned loyalty. There really should be Someone Somewhere who actually deserves this office with its authority, power, pomp and glory.

And so we celebrate Jesus, the Son of Mary, who alone is worthy to be called Son of God. He alone is worthy to be our priest, even to enter the Heavenly Sanctuary where the Father sits in majesty.

He does not enter empty handed; he carries the sacrifice of his own body and blood.

Nor does he enter alone for he insists upon our going with him. Despite our dread of God's majesty and our own feelings of unworthiness, we go with him because we cannot refuse anything to one who has given so much for us. We have witnessed his agony and death and, like the centurion, we have declared "Truly this was the Son of God!" We are fascinated and drawn irresistibly to him. Baptized into his body, we bow with him before God the Father.