First
Reading: Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a
Context. The
origins of this “letter” are shrouded in mystery: we don’t know who wrote it,
who is was intended for, or whether it was even a letter (it may well have been
a homily.) Its central theme is the
priesthood of Christ, crucified and exalted: Christ did what Jewish cult could
not do – provide permanent cleansing from sin, through the New Altar of the
Cross. We are called to follow our “forerunner” on his pilgrimage,
bringing us home to heavenly rest. The sections of the letter we’ve been
reading over the past few weeks deal with quite how we’re to walk this walk: we
heard of people who endured trials for the sake of the heavenly city they could
not see but, by faith, were assured of inheriting. We must follow this pilgrim band, who have
Jesus as their head.