Homily for 33d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
33d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Nov. 17, 2024
Heb 10: 11-14, 18
The Fountains, Tuckahoe
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

“But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God” (Heb 10: 12).

“This one” is our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the Letter to the Hebrews has been speaking, contrasting him with the priests of the Old Testament.  We’ve heard some passages about that for several Sundays now.

https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/2013/02/23/the-twice-daily-sacrifice

The Old Testament priests offered new sacrifices every day, sheep, goats, and bulls on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem.  “Those sacrifices can never take away sins,” the sacred author states (12:11).  They can atone for our sins but not erase them, just as an apology we make to someone atones for our fault but doesn’t remove the offense or cause it to be forgotten.  Furthermore, repeated temple sacrifices were necessary because of people’s repeated faults against God and neighbor.

Jesus, however, offered on the cross one sacrifice for our sins.  The blood of the Lamb of God has done what no earthly sheep’s blood can do.  He has no need to repeat that offering of his own body and blood; once was enuf; once was perfect and complete for all time and all people.  “Where there is forgiveness of [all our sins], there is no longer offering for sin” (12:18).  Jesus’ one sacrifice makes our sins disappear.  It cleanses us in God’s sight.  “By one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated” (10:14).

“Those who are being consecrated” means those who are being made sacred because they belong to God.  Those who take part in Christ’s one sacrifice are cleansed and made perfect in God’s eyes.  Christ’s disciples are joined to him sacramentally.  That’s why St. Paul frequently addresses believers as “God’s holy ones,” as “saints.”

We’re joined to Christ sacramentally by Baptism.  In Baptism we enter the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which is not just a historic event of the year 30 A.D. (or so) but an eternal event.  It is ever present to God, an eternal self-offering of Christ, an eternal rising of Christ to life—for there is no past or future for God, only an eternal now.

(by El Greco)

We share in this sacred eternal mystery every time we take part in Mass, in this new and eternal covenant in the body and blood of Christ.  In the body and blood of Christ, our sins are forgiven and wiped away as if they never happened; they no longer exist.  At every celebration of the Eucharist, we offer Christ’s one sacrifice on Calvary and Christ risen from the dead, “forever seated at the right hand of God” (10:12) interceding for our pardon and our being restored to God’s family.  So we’re no longer separated from God but are consecrated to him.

Then it remains for us to live as consecrated persons, as “God’s holy ones.”  In the prayer over our offerings in a few minutes, we’ll pray that our offering (Jesus) “may obtain the grace of being devoted to” God, i.e., of living faithfully like Christ.  After communion, we’ll pray that our participation in Christ’s body and blood “may bring us growth in charity,” i.e., may we always speak and act out of love for God and for one another—in devotion, prayer, and self-sacrifice; in patience, kindness, honesty, and cheerfulness.