Jesus offered Himself as sacrifice for our immortal souls
Reflections on the readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 4, 2018): DT 6:2-6; PS 18:2-3,3-4,47,51; HEB 7:23-28; MK 12:28-34
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
We are reminded in today’s liturgy of the overwhelming gift that the Son of God offered to save His people.
He embodies both the person of the priest and of the sacrifice itself. “Jesus, because He remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, He is always able to save those who approach God through Him, since He lives forever to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25). His sacrifice is eternal – once and forever Christ gave His life for His beloved people. He is also the holy and sinless eternal priest who intervenes for us with His Father.
The readings speak of God’s love for us, and His desire that we love Him in return. Sadly, we are so used to the idea of Jesus dying for us on the cross, that we tend to take it for granted. We believe that He is our Redeemer without focusing on what that means to Him and to us. Only love and mercy beyond measure could have brought our Lord among us to embrace us with His compassion. He knows what we tend to overlook, that we are sinners incapable of protecting ourselves from the ugly, brutal, persistent consequences of sin and death. So Christ saves us – for now and forever – if only we let Him.
Suggested missionary action: Let’s stop taking life and love for granted. Let’s express our love for God and neighbor in prayer, word and, especially, action. And let’s do one simple, but definite new thing daily to help others and honor our Lord.
