Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest

LECTIONARY
350

FIRST READING

Is 6:1-4, 8

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

PSALM

Ps 23:2-3, 5, 6

Response: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

GOSPEL

Mk 10:46-52

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Daily Reflection

The readings of today offer us insights into the nature of priesthood and the role of Jesus as our eternal intercessor.

Jesus' priesthood is not bound by time or lineage. It transcends the limitations of the Levitical priesthood and extends throughout eternity. As the Eternal High Priest, Jesus intercedes for us continuously, offering his perfect sacrifice to the Father on our behalf.

Jesus' priesthood is marked by servant leadership. He calls us to follow his example by serving others selflessly and placing their needs above our own. This challenges us to examine our own understanding of leadership and strive to imitate Christ's humility in all aspects of our lives.

The feast of Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, invites us to contemplate the profound gift of His priesthood. Through his intercession and sacrifice, Jesus provides us with access to the Father, reconciling us with God and offering us the opportunity for eternal life. It is through our participation in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, that we share in the fruits of Jesus' priesthood and are nourished by his body and blood.