“Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary...” (Hebrews 10:19.)
Saint Gregory of Nyssa (part 2 of the background of Saint Gregory of Nyssa is found here) offers the following insight on this verse from today’s First Reading:
“Taking a hint from what has been said by Paul, who partially uncovered the mystery of these things, we say that Moses was earlier instructed by a type in the mystery of the tabernacle that encompasses the universe. This tabernacle would be “Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God,” who in his own nature was not made with hands, yet capable of being made when it became necessary for this tabernacle to be erected among us. Thus, the same tabernacle is in a way both unfashioned and fashioned, uncreated in preexistence but created in having received this material composition.” (Life of Moses, 2.174.)
“To define our new situation as Christians, which has been obtained thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, the author actually declares that we have “full assurance for entry into the sanctuary thanks to the blood of Jesus” (10:19). Jesus himself “through his own blood entered into the sanctuary” (9:12); “He entered it as a forerunner for us” (6:20) because His blood purifies our conscience “from dead works” and makes us able to “pay worship to the living God” (9:14). That is what gives us “full assurance for entry into the sanctuary.” This sentence shows that the “perfection” communicated to Christians through the mediation of Christ has the value of a priestly consecration.” (Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, The Letter to the Hebrews: A New Commentary. Paulist Press 978-0809149285, pages 166-167.)
Collect
“To define our new situation as Christians, which has been obtained thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, the author actually declares that we have “full assurance for entry into the sanctuary thanks to the blood of Jesus” (10:19). Jesus himself “through his own blood entered into the sanctuary” (9:12); “He entered it as a forerunner for us” (6:20) because His blood purifies our conscience “from dead works” and makes us able to “pay worship to the living God” (9:14). That is what gives us “full assurance for entry into the sanctuary.” This sentence shows that the “perfection” communicated to Christians through the mediation of Christ has the value of a priestly consecration.” (Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, The Letter to the Hebrews: A New Commentary. Paulist Press 978-0809149285, pages 166-167.)
Collect
O God,
Who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco
as a father and teacher of the young,
grant, we pray,
that, aflame with the same fire of love,
we may seek out souls and serve You alone.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco
as a father and teacher of the young,
grant, we pray,
that, aflame with the same fire of love,
we may seek out souls and serve You alone.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
