18/01/2023

There is not a lot that we can know about Melchizedek. He was a priest who blessed Abraham in the Promised Land. He was a priest before the arrival of Abraham at Salem. Abraham recognised his priesthood and donated to him the first recorded tithes. 

The Middle East of Abraham's days was a territory that was sandwiched between the Empires ruled from the North and East by the ever changing power of Hittites, Medes Persians Assyrians etc. and the permanence of the power that was Egypt ever waxing and waning to the South. All the rulers attributed their success to the favour of one of the gods of their pantheon of deities but in some localities one temple became the centre of a cult devoted to a particular idol and became famous. Such a cultic leader was Melchizedek. There was no religion with a codified system of belief as we know it today although the Egyptians had developed rituals the hymns of which have influenced parts of the Old Testament and its foundational Monotheism.

The Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Lord were finally brought to rest in the Land of Melchizedek and the Sons of Aron became heredity priests. The History of the Jews and the Law of Moses became the Holy Scriptures and grew into the religion we can recognise as God's revelation of himself to the whole world so that all mankind can be redeemed.

Jesus makes it clear that over scrupulous devotion to detail is not what is required of a priest. His priests have to be good shepherds who will literally and figuratively lay down their lives for their sheep. He is nowhere more the Good Shepherd than when he suffers and dies on the mountain where Melchizedek of old had been a priest. 

Our priests are presented with exactly the same difficulties as we all are in facing up to the temptations that the comforts, pleasures and ease of modern life bring about but they are supported by the special grace that being called by Father, Son and Holy Spirit gives to them. They are not called to pride, privilege or power but to poverty of person in sincere imitation of Our Lord.

Dear Lord you know how many years that I have now completed on earth. You know the disobedience in which I have lived. Let this first day of my new year be completed without adding new sins so that I may know the grace which you pour out on the whole earth. May Mary and all the saints continue to reinforce the faith of  the descendants in priesthood of Jesus, our God and High Priest, so that they may serve Father, Son and Holy Spirit by fulfilling their duty of care for their flock and call to personal holiness.