Saturday 21 October 2023

Psalm 147

Background

I have discovered hidden treasure in the letter to the Hebrews this week which I had not noticed before. I love the verse I chose as the headline verse on Thursday (Hebrews 6:19) and Hebrews 8:5 is beautiful too: "They offer worship in a sanctuary which is a sketch or shadow of the heavenly one."

I currently have pastoral charge of a medieval church within a local ecumenical partnership. I find it a deeply worshipful place. The walls feel steeped in prayer. If the sanctuary of this church is "a sketch or shadow of the heavenly one", I can’t wait to get there!

Yesterday’s passage was in danger of making earthly priests redundant because Jesus was now being declared as an eternal heavenly priest. Earthly priests are imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Earthly priests repeatedly offer sacrifices. Jesus offers one sacrifice, once and for all.

However, I find in today’s passage that there is still a place for priestly ministry on earth. My task is to help people see "a sketch or shadow of the heavenly one". That means that I am called to be Christ-like and to offer worship to help people catch a glimpse of heaven.

I have been conscious all week that this constant talk of priests might be making lay people feel excluded and unimportant, and that is not the Methodist way! We believe in the priesthood of all believers. All of us are called to be "a sketch or shadow of the heavenly one".

In the final verse of this reading, the word ‘better’ appears twice. Jesus is "the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises" (v. 6). I hope this week’s reflections have inspired us all to be better at priestly ministry. May we offer our gifts and sacrifices, so that the heavenly one might become more visible.

To Ponder:

• What hidden treasures have you found this week?
• How does worship help you to catch a glimpse of heaven? 
• What do you wish you or your church could be better at? 

 Prayer

Jesus, you are our great high priest. We can come before your throne with boldness because you sympathise with our weaknesses. Draw us into the internal shrine of our souls and fill us with the hope that springs eternal. Amen.