Who Is Jesus to You? – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
How would you describe the Lord? Throughout this Sunday’s readings, various words are used to describe the Lord.
In the psalm, the Lord is called “my strength.” Do we turn to the Lord for strength? Do we do so daily? After all, when Jesus teaches us how to pray, He includes the words, “Give us this day, our daily bread.” When we think of bread, the Eucharist comes to mind. Jesus strengthens us when we consume his Body and Blood. However, even for those not able to attend Mass every day, God gives us some strength each day if we allow him to.
The Lord is also called “my rock, my fortress.” A rock is solid. Nothing makes for a more solid foundation than the Lord. A fortress is a place of safety for all who dwell within it. The Lord protects all those who enter into life with him. Likewise, the Lord is “my shield.”
The Lord is also our “deliverer.” He is the one who delivers us, saves us, from our sins. The levitical priests offered sacrifices “day after day.” Jesus “did that once for all when he offered himself” on the Cross. Jesus’ sacrifice is the perfect sacrifice.
As one who offers the supreme sacrifice, Jesus is a priest. There were many levitical priests. There had to be because they died. They offered sacrifices according to the Lord’s instruction but those sacrifices had to be offered over and over. Thus, many were needed.
Jesus “remains forever” and He “has a priesthood that does not pass away.” His is the perfect sacrifice. That’s why we do not celebrate a new sacrifice in the Eucharist. It is the same sacrifice that Jesus offered that we celebrate in accordance with Jesus’ words Do this in remembrance of me.”
The Letter to the Hebrews offers still more words to describe Jesus.
He is “holy” in doing his Father’s will.
He is “innocent” and “undefiled.” He was tested but did not sin. He has nothing to be guilty for. This is what makes him the perfect sacrifice. As such, He is “separated from sinners” in his innocence yet He would eat with sinners to bring them to his Father.
Because of all this, the Lord is the one who we trust. In our reverence for him, we keep “all his statutes and commandments.” We know that if we do so, we will have a long life and prosper. If we follow the Lord in his holiness, He will give us “a land that is flowing with milk and honey.”
We do well “take to heart” what the Lord has put to us through Moses, all the prophets, culminating in the teachings of Jesus our deliverer.
The heart is the center of our being. This heart transcends the heart that pumps our blood. The heart of which I now speak is love. God is love. Love is “worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Peace,
Fr. Jeff