Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Feast of the Black Christ of Esquipulas in Guatemala, venerated throughout all of Central America.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Hebrews 2,14-18

Since all the children share the same human nature, he too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could set aside him who held the power of death, namely the devil, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself the line of Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way be made completely like his brothers so that he could become a compassionate and trustworthy high priest for their relationship to God, able to expiate the sins of the people. For the suffering he himself passed through while being put to the test enables him to help others when they are being put to the test.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Jesus is not only an exemplary priest, he is the high priest, the greatest because "he does not take care of the angels, but takes care of the race of Abraham." He cared for men and women, healed their sicknesses, accompanied their frailty, comforted their weary hearts: he is truly "a merciful high priest." He wanted to "share flesh and blood" with human beings, sharing everything with them: like the poor he too suffered hunger and thirst, like those persecuted for the sake of justice he too was insulted, like the imprisoned he too was imprisoned. Yes, "precisely because he has been put to the test and has suffered personally, he is able to come to the aid of those who suffer trial," the author of the letter writes. Crucified innocent, Jesus made the cross the altar of the sacrifice of which he was high priest and victim. On the cross he bore the sin of people and, by forgiving those who killed him, he forgave the whole of humanity: he offered himself as a sacrifice "in order to atone for the sins of the people." It is the mystery of a truly great and boundless love: Jesus crucified, instead of cursing, makes the cross the place of blessing for all. From this altar, Christ the High Priest acts on behalf of the people, forgives and proposes a different law to men and women: not that of vengeance, but that of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus, "like his brothers and sisters in every respect," comes to share in their greatest weakness, death. Let us continue to give thanks for this mystery of love, and above all, let us not cease to bind ourselves to him who came down among us to make us sharers in his own life.