“HE OFFERED HIMSELF” (HEB 7:27)
Jesus “achieved eternal redemption.” ––Hebrews 9:12
The Holy Bible is often called God’s love letter to humanity. In a particular sense, the Letter to the Hebrews is God’s love letter to Jewish converts to the Christian faith. The author makes this clear when he references the Lord’s prophetic messages to the Hebrew people: “In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets” (Heb 1:1).
But Hebrews contains a lesson important for all of us. Specifically, Jesus Himself has replaced the Old Testament sacrifices. A priest of the Old Covenant needed “to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; [Jesus] did that once for all when He offered Himself” (Heb 7:27).
Today’s first Eucharistic reading paints a beautiful picture of this reality: “When Christ came as High Priest of the good things which have come to be, He entered once for all into the sanctuary, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation. He entered, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, and achieved eternal redemption” (Heb 9:11-12).
This allows us to live as free children of God (see Jn 8:36; cf Gal 5:13). We don’t need to live in bondage, concerned about which ritual is necessary for forgiveness (see Acts 13:38-39). Accept the atonement Jesus offers for you. Follow Jesus. Be free!
Prayer: Father, grace me to follow Your Son wherever He leads me.
Promise: “For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.” ––Ps 47:3
Praise: St. Agnes took Jesus’ words to heart: “Some there are who have freely renounced sex for the sake of God’s reign” (Mt 19:12). It won her the crown of martyrdom.
