Christ the Eternal High Priest in Two Images by Maximilian Schmalzl, C.Ss.R.

Christ the Eternal High Priest in Two Images by Maximilian Schmalzl, C.Ss.R. Neil J. Roy … Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, Today I have begotten thee”; As he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 5:5-10) Of all the books of the Bible, the Letter to the Hebrews presents the most sustained and penetrating treatment of Jesus Christ as the new and eternal high priest appointed by God to redeem the human race from sin and its consequences. Of unknown authorship, Hebrews has been identified by the Jesuit exegete Albert Vanhoye and others as a homily rather than a letter, indeed a homily delivered in the context of an actual celebration of the Eucharist. Whatever may be its origi-   Scriptural citations are drawn from The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (Westminster: Catholic Truth Society, 1966).   Albert Vanhoye, La Structure Litteraire de l’Epitre aux Hebreux (Paris: Desclée De Brouwer, 1963). For a presentation in English of the chief conclusions , see: Vanhoye, A Structured Translation of the Epistle to the Hebrews, trans. James Swetnam (Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1964) 3-7; Vanhoye , Old Testament Priests and the New Priests, trans. B. Orchard (Petersham Antiphon 14.1 (2010): 17-29 18 Neil J. Roy nal literary format and venue, Hebrews explains that Jesus “has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 6:20). Cistercian scholar Roch A. Kereszty, in a brilliant exposition of the eucharistic references in Hebrews, notes the extended exegetical treatment of Psalm (109)110 Dixit Dominus addressed to a Hebrew-speaking audience in or near Italy, possibly even at Rome: Apart from the short (and probably later) addition of the epistolary conclusion (13:19, 22-25), Hebrews is not a letter but a work of ancient Christian exegesis in the literary form of a homily, and … a homily at a eucharistic service. Within the homily, Psalm 110 fulfills a structurally decisive role, with its verses 1 and 4 serving as a refrain, unifying the important points of the doctrinal exposition. By means of this psalm the author shows that Jesus, the preexistent Son, is both the promised royal and priestly Messiah. Even though it is described in the cultic terms of the expiatory rites as performed by the high priest on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16), Christ’s sacrifice is not the performance of a ritual. It is his freely given obedience to God from the beginning of his earthly life that culminates in the voluntary offering of his body (10:1-10) and in the entry into the heavenly sanctuary through his blood (9:12, 14; 10:19). Hebrews provides particularly insightful commentary on the mysterious figure and role of Melchizedek. Mentioned first in the Book of Genesis, Melchizedek emerges in sacred Scripture after Abram’s defeat of the kings at Hobah, north of Damascus: After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen 14:17- 20) MA, 1986) 228-32; “Hebrews,” The International Bible Commentary (Collegeville : Liturgical Press, 1998) 1766; Roch A...