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11 But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14 NRSV)
I was once an altar boy. Okay, an altar man. I suppose the correct word would be acolyte. It was the wedding of the building secretary, whom everyone loved and this long-awaited day came, and Nellie and I arrived early. The building in question is the Campus Ministry Center at then-Pan American University, owned and run by the Diocese of Brownsville, and The Rev. Jerry Frank was the Catholic priest in the building and Ofelia, the woman who was to be wed, had asked him to officiate at this blessed event. Father Jerry was walking back and forth and up and down the aisles of the large church and I asked him what was wrong. "My altar boy did not show up!" he said a bit angrily. "You want me to be the altar boy," I joked. "YES! Come on!" Gulp. I was only kidding. Jerry seldom kidded. He's from Minnesota ya know. So, I looked at Nellie and she was about to laugh and up I went. I was wearing a suit, so I didn't feel out of place and honestly, I felt honored to be a part of Ofelia's special day, because she went out of her way to make me feel a part of the building and all of the activities of same. What I did not count on was the part of the mass where the priest gave the couple the Sacrament and Father Jerry handed me the still very full chalice of very Catholic wine and said, under his breath, "Kill this." Huh? Thank God, two of the nuns from the building were up there with me, and they knew that I did not imbibe. Chuckling when they heard the command, they reached over towards my confused face and took the cup and in two quick gulps, they both "killed" the chalice. I still wonder about how Jesus may have felt about my not drinking His Blood on that occasion. I know that Jesus knows my heart and my thoughts on my personal decision to not drink spirits and my thankfulness for Dr. Welch and his marvelous invention of pasteurized grape juice. In this passage, the author of Hebrews emphasizes the significance of Christ’s sacrifice and the profound difference it makes in our lives. The old covenant involved the repeated sacrifices of animals, a temporary solution to the problem of sin. Each offering served as a reminder of the brokenness of humanity and the need for atonement. However, Christ’s coming changes everything. He is not merely a high priest; He is the perfect sacrifice, entering the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood.
As we reflect on these verses, we see that Christ’s sacrifice was once for all—complete and sufficient. It secured our eternal redemption, freeing us from the cycle of sin and guilt. His blood doesn’t just cover our sins; it purifies our very conscience, allowing us to approach God without fear. This is the essence of grace: unearned, unmerited favor that transforms our relationship with the Father.
The call to action here is clear: as recipients of this incredible gift, we are invited to live in response to His love. Let us not take this grace for granted but instead commit ourselves to worshiping the living God with our lives.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who entered the Holy Place and offered Himself for our redemption. Help us to fully grasp the magnitude of His sacrifice and to live in light of this truth. Purify our hearts and consciences so that we may worship You in spirit and in truth. Guide us in ways to express our gratitude and share Your love with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on the ways you can express gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Consider practical steps to worship God daily, whether through prayer, service, or acts of kindness.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
