Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon you." Thus we may say with confidence:
"The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Showing posts with label Book of Hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book of Hebrews. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bible Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
This is from the same link posted in the blog post immediately preceding this one.
snip
Benedict XVI said he could not speak to the gathering because he will begin his annual spiritual exercises today.
This year's exercises are dedicated to a theme taken from Hebrews 4:14: "Let Us Welcome Christ, Our High Priest: 'Since, Then, We Have a Great High Priest Who Has Passed Through the Heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, Let Us Hold Fast to Our Confession.'"
Jesuit Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, former secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, will preach the retreat.
The spiritual exercises will end on Saturday, Feb. 16, with the celebration of Lauds and a closing meditation. During the retreat all audiences will be cancelled, including the weekly general audience of Wednesday, Feb. 13.
***
I've mentioned that I enjoy using the Amplified Bible (though being Protestant it lacks the chapters that the Catholic Bible contains in its completeness) because it provides references within the passages to the full nuances of each translated word in its original language (e.g. Greek, Hebrew). Here is the full section of scripture that the Pope and his companions will be contemplating on their retreat. This is a point I have been emphasizing over and over in my blogging, regarding how Jesus is the High Priest (and why Catholic priests continue to model themselves, as difficult as it may be, on Jesus alone).
Hebrew 4:
14. Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldy draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrew 5:
1. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
***
St. Paul is very clear that Jesus Christ is the High Priest, that the role of the priest continues from the Old Covenant (Judaism) to the New Covenant (Christianity), and that the duties of the priest include acting on behalf of the faithful in things related to God, and to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin.
snip
Benedict XVI said he could not speak to the gathering because he will begin his annual spiritual exercises today.
This year's exercises are dedicated to a theme taken from Hebrews 4:14: "Let Us Welcome Christ, Our High Priest: 'Since, Then, We Have a Great High Priest Who Has Passed Through the Heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, Let Us Hold Fast to Our Confession.'"
Jesuit Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, former secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, will preach the retreat.
The spiritual exercises will end on Saturday, Feb. 16, with the celebration of Lauds and a closing meditation. During the retreat all audiences will be cancelled, including the weekly general audience of Wednesday, Feb. 13.
***
I've mentioned that I enjoy using the Amplified Bible (though being Protestant it lacks the chapters that the Catholic Bible contains in its completeness) because it provides references within the passages to the full nuances of each translated word in its original language (e.g. Greek, Hebrew). Here is the full section of scripture that the Pope and his companions will be contemplating on their retreat. This is a point I have been emphasizing over and over in my blogging, regarding how Jesus is the High Priest (and why Catholic priests continue to model themselves, as difficult as it may be, on Jesus alone).
Hebrew 4:
14. Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldy draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrew 5:
1. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
***
St. Paul is very clear that Jesus Christ is the High Priest, that the role of the priest continues from the Old Covenant (Judaism) to the New Covenant (Christianity), and that the duties of the priest include acting on behalf of the faithful in things related to God, and to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Bible Reading: Paul, Book of Hebrews
Hebrews 6:13-20
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself;
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.
That by two immutable things; in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
***
Everything that St. Paul wrote is of great importance. Remember that he was personally instructed by the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus, and so he had a formidable insight. Even among so many great things that he wrote, this passage is one of the most profound. He is able to explain the foundations of salvation history, of the truth of the Church, like no one else except Jesus himself. Notice how your understanding and confidence builds and is illuminated line by line in this passage.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself;
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.
That by two immutable things; in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
***
Everything that St. Paul wrote is of great importance. Remember that he was personally instructed by the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus, and so he had a formidable insight. Even among so many great things that he wrote, this passage is one of the most profound. He is able to explain the foundations of salvation history, of the truth of the Church, like no one else except Jesus himself. Notice how your understanding and confidence builds and is illuminated line by line in this passage.
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