Thoughts for the Day

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him: 'You are my Son, today, I have begotten you'.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Yesterday we looked at Jesus' call to the first disciples but today we return to the letter to the Hebrews. In his effort to bring the new Christians back on-line again, as it were, after being influenced by local Jewish agitators, the writer looks at the authority of Jesus as their high priest. He reminds them that every high priest is chosen - he is called by God - and so it is with Jesus. He does not make this claim for himself, instead Jesus is affirmed in his work at his baptism by God the Father, with the words: "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1.11).

In the same way every priest and minister in the Church today is called by God.to the tasks given to them. Men and women do not appoint themselves to this work and much of their training is in fact to ascertain that God is calling them to the task - that He has chosen them. We should also remember that when chosen they may have only a glimmer of the gifts needed for the task, for these will all have to be honed in the years ahead. So it is in the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches that it can take from 3-8 years on average before someone is ordained a 'full-time' (ie a stipendiary) priest.

Through prayer, the Church discerns whether someone has been called to ministry. Our task is to pray for all who believe they are called to be ministers, in whatever capacity, to do God's work.

Heavenly Father,
You call all Your ministers
to work in Your Church and in the world.
We pray for all who are thinking
of offering themselves for this task,
that they will hear Your call;
have faith in Your call;
and answer that call.
We pray for those in training
or in their early years of ministry.
May they feel affirmed and upheld
no matter the challenges they face.
Amen.