THE PERFECT AND SANCTIFYING SACRIFICES

SUNDAY, THIRTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Dan 12:1-3; Ps 16:5,8-11; Heb 10:11-14,18; Mk 13:24-32

The Sanctification of the Perfect

The year of the Church is gradually drawing to a close, and the readings are increasingly about eschatological events. The first thing we note about the apocalyptic books of the Scriptures is that the events they describe are not historical but meta-historical or ahistorical events. By this, we mean that though we can understand the historical events within the interpretative framework they offer, the prophecies are for all times. The first reading from the Book of Daniel discusses a time of great distress that will come upon the world. There have been many times of distress and various forms of distress that have befallen the world. Each event can be understood within the framework of the apocalyptic prophecies. “At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts guard over your people. There would be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence.” The Archangel Michael is always mentioned in relation to the people of God, for he is the guardian angel of God’s people, to whom God has entrusted the duty of defending his people from the assaults of the evil one and his cohorts. Trying times come upon God’s people by his permission to try them and to purify their faith in God. The people of God acquire the strength and stamina they need for times of distress in their daily struggles. Those faithful to God’s words in small things will be faithful in difficult times.

The time to prepare for trying times is not when they are upon us; we prepare for difficult times every day as we faithfully meditate and contemplate the word to put it into practice in our lives. If we have been putting off the duty of reading and praying the word of God, we will suddenly find ourselves in a difficult time that will force us to compromise our faith in God. Thus, the angel assured Daniel of the safety of those whose names are written in the Book of Life. “When that time comes, your people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book.” Our names enter the Book of Life when we profess faith in God. Those who live by their faith have their names in the Book, and this is their victory over evil, their constant profession of faith in the blood of the Lamb. The Psalmist expresses the same sentiment as one who finds his assurance of safety in keeping the Lord every time before his gaze. “O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.” It is because we live our lives in the awareness of God and knowledge of the love he showed to us in the sacrifice of his only Begotten Son that we can overcome evil and temptations.

This awareness of God makes our life a sacrifice unto God, for it compels us to live to please him. The awareness connects our individual life to that of Jesus Christ and makes it a continuation of his perfect sacrifice. Though we stand at our duties every day to offer sacrifices like the priests of the Old Testament, ours are more effective than theirs because we continue the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “All the priests stand at their duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking sins away. He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him.” Our sacrifices are efficacious because they form a single sacrifice with Christ's sacrifice culminating on the cross. Both are offered through the same Holy Spirit given to each of us for the purpose.

Since his sacrifice on the cross provided a complete expiation for sins, ours are not for the expiation of our sins completed with his singular sacrifice but predisposes us for the reception of the fruits of his sacrifice in our lives through his Holy Spirit in us. Thus, by the same sacrifice Jesus Christ conquered the forces of evil and darkness we overcome them, for we profess the same faith in his name and drink his blood in faith. His blood in us makes us and our life a pure sacrifice to God. Hence, through our awareness of his sacrifice for our sins and in union with him through His Holy Spirit, we receive the effect of his sacrifice, namely, knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins and the conformity of our will with his in obedience to the will of the Father in all things. This process is the sanctification we read in the reading. “By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.” Crosses, trials, and sufferings of our distressful time bring about our sanctification. The process brings about the defeat of the enemies in each of us, who are members of Christ.  These make us shine forth in the glory of Jesus Christ as we go deeper into his mystery. These trials prepare us to meet him in glory whenever he comes. “And they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.”

Let us pray: Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good.” Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.