"Everything that the priesthood of the Old Covenant prefigured finds its fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the "one mediator between God and men." The Christian tradition considers Melchizedek, "priest of God Most High," as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ, the unique "high priest after the order of Melchizedek"; "holy, blameless, unstained," "by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified," that is, by the unique sacrifice of the cross." (CCC 1544).

"Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,
met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings
and blessed him.

"And Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything.
His name first means righteous king, and he was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace.
Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

"It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descentbut by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.
For it is testified:

"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 7: 1 - 3, 15 - 17).

Wednesday January 18th in the 2nd week of the Ordinary Time.

Our choice of Scripture is from the first Reading: Hebrews 7: 1 - 3, 15 - 17.

1. Who is Melchizedek, the chief character in the narrative?
2. What is the purpose of the sacred Priesthood?
3. What is the Priesthood of All Believers?
4. What is the ministerial Priesthood?
5. Why is Melchizedek a type of Jesus Christ?
6. Why is Jesus Christ the perfect Priest? A Priest, a Victim and the Altar of Sacrifice?

Brethren, there is so much meat in today's Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit for light and guidance as you ruminate on the questions above.

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

“The illusions of this world soon vanish, especially if a man arms himself with the Sign of the Cross.
The devils tremble at the Sign of the Cross of our Lord, by which He triumphed over and disarmed them.” (St Anthony the Abbot).

"Brothers and sisters: God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.

"We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.

"When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, and said, I will indeed bless you and multiply you. And so, after patient waiting, Abraham obtained the promise. Now, men swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument.

"So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us.

"This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6: 10 - 20).

Tuesday 17 January 2023 of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Anthony, Abbot (251 - 356). Also called St Anthony the Great, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Hermit, Anthony of Egypt.

Anthony inherited vast wealth from his parents who died when he was about 20 years old.
It is said that Anthony
"On his way to church one day, he found himself thinking about the words of Jesus, where He said, "Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come follow me." When he got to church, he heard the preacher speaking on those very words. He took this as a message from God for him, so having provided for the care of his sister, he gave his land to the tenants who lived on it, and gave his other wealth to the poor, and became a hermit, living alone for twenty years, praying and reading, and doing manual labor."
St Anthony is called the Father of Monasticism. He died at the age of 105.

Our key Scripture for today is from Hebrews 6: 10 - 20. I am lifted up by how God nourishes us through the Scriptures. As part of the penitential part of the Liturgy, the priest may say to God: "You give us the consolation of the Scriptures. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy..."

Today God is giving us plenty of consolation from holy Scriptures. An example:

"Brothers and sisters: God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones."

God will never forget any of your prayers or sacrifices on His behalf. Rejoice! Rejoice!

"This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

St Anthony the Abbot pray for us.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Holy Spirit came and rested on Jesus. That is the Sign. The fullness of time is here.

"John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”

"John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (John 1: 29 - 34).

Sunday January 15th in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time.

In the Gospel of this Sunday, three personalities in salvation history are presented to us.
St John the Baptist whose mission is to prepare the people for the coming of Christ at the appointed time. John fulfilled this mission through calling the people to repentance and a return to the ways of the Lord. The symbol of that metanoi is acceptance of the water Baptism.

In the fullness of time, Jesus appeared in the River Jordan and asked to be baptized by John. John recognized who Jesus is and protested that he is not worthy to administer Baptism to Jesus.
Don’t worry Johnny. Go ahead and baptize. The Father's providential plan must be adhered to.

After the Baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit confirms that Jesus is truly the Son of God, the expected Messiah. "On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit Baptism is what makes the sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, priests, princes and prophets. From this Baptism, we receive our vocation and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to live out this vocation. As we are led by the Spirit, we start to manifest the fruits of the Spirit. People notice the transformation in us and desire what we have.

The Mission and the Goal of the Church is Evangelization. The Holy Spirit is the Source and power of Evangelization.
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of Your faithful. Kindle in us the fire of Your divine love.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com