He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
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.
T he Roman Catholic Church still "appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests," and with age we only become more aware of our weakness. To make our lives worthwhile, we still need that One who has no need to offer sacrifice day after day, for he has given his life once for all on Calvary. The priestly people, aware of their own weakness, eagerly join that union with the Lord and his sacrifice by attending daily and Sunday masses.
Sacraments, especially that of Reconciliation, enable us to go beyond the sacrifices which were offered in the Old Testament temple. Confessing our sins, priests and people offer the totality of our sinful lives to God. In the sanctuary of the confessional, the Lord sweeps our whole lives up into his, and gives us to the Father.
He is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, but claims us and names us beautiful in his sight. As he does so we forget the poor offering of ourselves; we can make no claim of adequacy for such a moment. We're simply unworthy. But Mary's Son has blown our pathetic excuses aside as he embraces us. "Never mind all that. You are mine and I am the Father's, and He is pleased with us!"
Reconciliation -- confession, penance, whatever you call it -- is a most joyful sacrifice for we know the Lord is eager to welcome us. Naming our sins may be difficult as they hate to be exposed to the light. We may feel shame, regret, uncertainty, and confusion. But that's all part of the totality which Jesus finds so worthy. We might not even feel the joy which is, in fact, impelling us to speak for it wants to appear. The joy is entirely his and we are swept into the songs of the angels and saints as we offer ourselves once for all with Him.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.