Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 22, 2006 – Blessed Sacrament
In the second reading today we heard words that should be of immense comfort for us Christians. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews has been developing a sustained comparison of Jesus to the Jewish high priest. In performing his duties the ancient priest passed through two veils and brought the blood of the sacrificed animal into the part of the temple known as the Holy of Holies. So too in the Epistle, the essential moment of the sacrifice is when Christ passes through the heavens and brings the blood of his sacrifice before God. On the analogy, the sacrifice of Christ is not complete with his death on the cross but only when by his resurrection and ascension, he comes before God where he consummates his priestly sacrifice.
This is “the great high priest” who has passed through the heavens to make intercession for us before God. (more…)