Thoughts for the Day

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We continue looking at the Epistle to the Hebrews as we have done for some Sundays recently. Today is Remembrance Sunday in Britain so looking at the past, the present and the future, seems appropriate. If we look back at the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice, it wasn't a temporary fix to the problem of our sin or death, instead it was a total once and for all solution. Traditionally, the High Priest had made a temporary fix each year using animal blood, but this needed to be done again the next year. As our High Priest Jesus provided an eternal way for us to be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to a right relationship with God by offering himself on the cross.

We should not forget that our High Priest is no ordinary human being. He is Christ who is God's "Son", the "heir of all things", and who "created the worlds". In addition He is the "reflection of God's glory", "the exact imprint of God's very being" and "He sustains all things by His powerful word" (see Hebrews 1.1-4).

Christ has made a once and for all sacrifice for us, and having entered Heaven still serves us, by acting as our Advocate and offering intercessions for us. It was He who welcomed all who had died for their faith over the centuries; those men and women who gave their lives in wars that we might live in peace; and those who continue to die today as innocent victims of human violence.

It is Christ who will come again in the future for a second time to rescue those who trust in God. May we wait for the fulfillment of His promise with faith and hope in our hearts, and cry "Maranatha!" which means "Come Lord, Come!"

A Prayer for Remembrance Sunday

Merciful God,
You remember every life lived,
every pain suffered and every grief endured;
and you hold those memories forever safe
in your heart of love.
We lift before you on this Remembrance Day
those who have died in times of war,
trusting them to your loving care.
Also today, we remind ourselves
that nothing said or done in love will ever perish,
because you are God of the living,
in whose presence all may flourish eternally.
Amen.