Liturgy: “That he might become a merciful and faithful high priest”
It’s easy to get lost in the narratives of the Bible. With so many characters, stories of triumph and failure, and commentary on the action it’s important to step back and realize what the totality of Scripture is about—Christ.
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Louis Tullo, director of information technology (2015-2016):
It’s easy to get lost in the narratives of the Bible. With so many characters, stories of triumph and failure, and commentary on the action it’s important to step back and realize what the totality of Scripture is about—Christ. One way of looking at the story of the Bible is to see it in terms of the humanity being shown their need for a Savior and then how His arrival changed things forever.
The passage in this week’s readings that made that point crystal clear to me is the one from Hebrews. Christ’s high priesthood is one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring images in the Bible because it shows God bringing perfection to a system that exposes man’s frailty. God’s power to make a single once and for all sacrifice for humanity who live in constant need of a sacrifice makes a powerful statement about the way we lived before His priesthood and how we live now. Where we once were continually faced with failure and futility, we now behold the face of Jesus inviting us into worship and communion with Him.
Sometimes life makes me forget that Christ is my High Priest. I mess up, desire and do the wrong thing, get angry at God for situations and circumstances and then after all is said and done beat myself up for all of the above. After a sufficient amount of self-loathing I realize Christ paid my debt and that it brought Him joy to bear my Cross and be my sacrifice. When I finally reach that place I realize just how blessed I am to live in a post-Resurrection world. Unlike Job who was brought to the brink of death wrestling with God for answers to his suffering or the Israelites who constantly struggled to keep the law, I have assurance in the completed work of Christ they couldn’t experience in their time.
My prayer this week is that in the midst of what’s going on in life, your take the time to reflect on Christ’s perfect sacrifice for us and that in light of that sacrifice we’re called to worship.