Posted on October 25, 2024 View all Gospel Reflection
You are a priest forever…
In the Letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul quotes two key phrases. First “You are my son: this day I have begotten you” and second “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 5:6) In the context of these words we see the new understanding of Christ as the new high priest, one that will never end. These words also form part of the Catholic understanding of the role of the priest at Mass and in the Church.
In the time of Abraham, the priesthood was understood in the line of Aaron. This priesthood (which continued even to the time of Jesus Christ) was one that was based on genealogy. The first time that Aaron was mentioned was when Moses complained to Yahweh that he was slow of speech and lacking in eloquence. Yahweh then answered saying that Aaron the Levite was coming to meet Moses and that he would be his spokesman. “You will speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will assist both you and him in speaking and teach you both what you are to do. He will speak to the people for you: he will be your spokesman” (Ex. 4:15-16)
The priesthood of Aaron was seen as passed through from one generation to another in the Jewish people. They received the offerings from the people and sacrificed them to the Lord God in the temple. But these offerings and sacrifices were imperfect. They were not able to repay for what had been incurred through the original disobedience of Adam and Eve. That is why God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to become man and dwell among us. That then Jesus would become the priest, victim and source of reparation for our sinfulness.
St. Paul’s references in the Letter to the Hebrews points to this new priesthood. It highlights that the priest that we have now is Jesus Christ. This priesthood does not depend on human descendance, but rather depends on being configured to the person of Jesus Christ. He is the one priest who is eternal. His is the one sacrifice that was offered once for all and for the redemption of our sins. In the Catholic Church, the priests are ordained to be configured to Jesus Christ and thus participate in this new priesthood by acting in the person of Christ (in persona Christi Capitis).
What does this mean for the faithful of the Catholic Church? I would say that it means we are forever united to Jesus Christ. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ precisely because the priest is acting in the person of Jesus Himself. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, during Mass the priest is not a mere presenter or speaker. He is acting in the person of Jesus Christ Himself. And so Jesus brings Himself to us each time at Mass in the one sacrifice that transcends all time.
This is an important distinction from other Christian churches where the pastor is often seen as a representative or leader of the people. In the Catholic Church the priest is the representative of Jesus Christ to the people. So as we reflect on the readings for this week, let us give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood and how through the priest (however imperfect he may be), Jesus Christ is made present to us in the Eucharist and the other Sacraments so that we may have eternal life.
