That term scapegoat, it comes from the Day of Atonement. On Sunday, we talked about the two bulls, one for the High Priest, the other for the people. There were also two goats. One goat was killed, and like the bulls, the blood of this goat was brought into the Holy Place.
After the blood had been sprinkled on the altar, then the other goat, still living, is brought to the High Priest. The instructions for this are …
Read MoreThe New Testament never uses priest for the office Jesus instituted. The only priesthood Jesus establishes is the collective, royal priesthood of all the baptized. St. Peter writes to the whole church: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” [1 Pt 2.9].
A church that has special, ordained “priests” denies the pure Gospel. That’s because in the NT, Jesus is the priest….
Read More“At what time of day do you think Jesus ascended?” That’s what a parishioner asked me earlier today. I’d never thought about the question before, but I quickly had a guess: 9am or 3pm. Those are the appointed times for the morning and evening sacrifices.
In the Ascension, Jesus performs a priestly act. Luke tells us that Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them. Perhaps the sun illuminated the scars where the nails had pierced Him. What did Jesus say in His blessing?
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