Wednesday, April 12, 2006
From AscensionNYC
Wednesday in Holy Week
Psalm 69:7-15, 22-23
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-28
John 13:21-35
I cry easily -- not great sobbing, but tears come to my eyes. It can happen at times of tragedy, cruelty to animals, someone doing something wonderful for another, a great piece of music, someone winning an award. When I first read the readings for today, tears came to my eyes while reading the passage from Hebrews. This was quite spontaneous, and I put a lot of trust in spontaneity as a true mirror into one's feelings. Clearly, the passage was very moving and as a result this reflection is only about Hebrews (there doesn't seem to be an edict against this).
The book of Hebrews is so platonic in this section. There's the Holy of Holies that the priest enters once a year on Yom Kippur (I think), a shadow of the greater and perfect tent in heaven. There's the flesh of goats and heifers for sacrifice and there is Jesus in the flesh on the cross. Then there is the blood of those animals, a dim shadow of the blood of Christ. The sacrifice of those animals is so powerfully contrasted with the sacrifice of our Lord. It's not a sacrifice like the high priests did year after year, but a great, loving sacrifice of the real blood that brings eternal redemption. It's not again and again, but once and for a much greater sanctification.
Christ's love, this great sacrifice for us, is why tears came to my eyes. It is so wonderful that God so loved us that he did this for us. Sometimes the thought of this love is overwhelming.
In a few days we will commemorate this sacrifice, and I will probably cry as I always do, thinking of the sufferings of Christ. But, as a friend reminded me last year, the day is called Good Friday, not Bad Friday. Maybe I will be able to reflect instead on the great love shown by Jesus on that day.
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-28
John 13:21-35
I cry easily -- not great sobbing, but tears come to my eyes. It can happen at times of tragedy, cruelty to animals, someone doing something wonderful for another, a great piece of music, someone winning an award. When I first read the readings for today, tears came to my eyes while reading the passage from Hebrews. This was quite spontaneous, and I put a lot of trust in spontaneity as a true mirror into one's feelings. Clearly, the passage was very moving and as a result this reflection is only about Hebrews (there doesn't seem to be an edict against this).
The book of Hebrews is so platonic in this section. There's the Holy of Holies that the priest enters once a year on Yom Kippur (I think), a shadow of the greater and perfect tent in heaven. There's the flesh of goats and heifers for sacrifice and there is Jesus in the flesh on the cross. Then there is the blood of those animals, a dim shadow of the blood of Christ. The sacrifice of those animals is so powerfully contrasted with the sacrifice of our Lord. It's not a sacrifice like the high priests did year after year, but a great, loving sacrifice of the real blood that brings eternal redemption. It's not again and again, but once and for a much greater sanctification.
Christ's love, this great sacrifice for us, is why tears came to my eyes. It is so wonderful that God so loved us that he did this for us. Sometimes the thought of this love is overwhelming.
In a few days we will commemorate this sacrifice, and I will probably cry as I always do, thinking of the sufferings of Christ. But, as a friend reminded me last year, the day is called Good Friday, not Bad Friday. Maybe I will be able to reflect instead on the great love shown by Jesus on that day.
Ted Kneisler
