Act of love

The Letter to the Hebrews is magnificent – a fascinating piece of history and literature arousing curiosity:

Besides containing the finest Greek in the entire Bible, Hebrews has the richest vocabulary – 1,038 different words, of which 154 are not found elsewhere in the New Testament and 10 are not found anywhere in prior Greek literature (Healy, Hebrews, p.23).

Various theories abound about its author, origin, structure and intended audience.

Was he a travelling preacher, wandering around early Christian communities, proclaiming Jesus Christ as the one true priest?

Certainly, Jesus offered himself to his eternal Father for us, establishing the one great sacrifice permeating human hearts:

During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard (Hebrews 5).

By his great act of love – surrendering to death – ‘Jesus reversed the whole history of human sin and rebellion against God.’

This act of love is made present in the Eucharist:

This is my body. This is my blood.

What might be our response? Hebrews dares us to:

Draw near. Enter in.

Amen.