He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
REFLECTION
"Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins."
In today's first reading we get a great explanation of what a priest is, why he is picked by God, and what he is supposed to do.
The priesthood is not for the priest's own sake, but he helps the faithful in all aspects of their faith. At our Baptism we become adopted children of God and temples where the Holy Spirit dwells. We receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit during our Confirmation. We are pardoned for our sins during Confession and receive The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ during Communion. There are many other Gifts and Graces obtained with the other Sacraments.
Most of these sacraments we receive by a Priest, who gives the entirety of his life to the care of his flock. He aids us in our search for God and straightens our paths when we need spiritual direction.
Would you like to help these men who have given their lives so we can get into Heaven?
Our mission is to see all the priests be holy like Christ. Let us pray for priests to believe in the Lord Jesus who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, to love the Church as Jesus loves her and be willing and ready to lay down their life for His people.
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