Jesus is one who intercedes for us, who bears us open his heart in the Father’s presence. Here’s today’s reflection from the daily Mass.
Readings for the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest can be found here
Every priest, at various times in their life, will be asked by someone to say a prayer for them. Sometimes, this comes from a member of the congregation. A private request to pray for them or someone close to them. At other times, it could come from someone in the community, or from a passing stranger. “Say one for me,” they may say. Even in the secular culture in which we find ourselves, requests for prayer are thrown, in one way or another, to priests.
Jesus has many titles, and there are several roles he fulfils. We can easily think of many of them. Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the True Vine, the Light of the World, the Saviour, Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ. Today, we celebrate the feast of Christ, the eternal High Priest, the one who stands between us and God the Father. The one who intercedes for us, who bears us open his heart in the Father’s presence. In simple terms, the one who is willing to “say one for us,” and represent us to God.
In the letter to the Hebrews, we see Jesus offering not the flesh of other beings, but his own body as a sacrifice. He is the one who lays down his life. He is both priest and victim. He is the one who opens his arms in openness and prayer, just as a priest does, but he is also the one whose open arms are nailed to the cross as a sacrifice for sin. When someone casts the sometime casual request to “say one for me,” they probably don’t realise what it means to represent that prayer on their behalf to God the Father—for their prayer is lifted up to the bloody and broken hands of Jesus who lifts those prayers higher. For he is our advocate, our intercessor, our Great High Priest.
Mass today is in Ss Dyfrig and Samson at 10am
If you would like more resources for daily prayer, check out our Day By Day pages.
South Cardiff Ministry Area 