THE HIGH PRIEST

 Meditation for Monday of the 2^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Heb 5:1-10; Mk 2:18-22)

Welcome to the second week of our journey with the Letter to the Hebrews. Today the author extols the priesthood of Jesus Christ by examining it in relation to the nature of priests in general. “Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” Being one of them, he is familiar with their weaknesses. A normal priest offers sacrifices for the sins of others as well as his own sins. And every priest is called by God, no one takes this honour upon himself.

“So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said to Him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’...You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” As one among us, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to God on our behalf. When the priest of old made their sacrifices, the loud cries of bulls, sheep, etc was heard. But Christ our High Priest offered Himself for us. And God heard His cries and received His perfect sacrifice. “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the Gospel we see Jesus speaking up for the disciples against the Pharisees who accused them of not fasting. This is how He defends us and mediates for us as our High Priest. And being the source of every grace, He brings answers to our prayers and shows us the right way to live and to worship God. Therefore, let us not put new wine into old wine skins; let us not approach the priesthood of Christ with the old pharisaic mind of self-exaltation. But let our fasting and sacrifices be signs of our participation in the one sacrifice of Jesus, our High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday January 18^th, 2021.
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