Epistle Reading – 2025-01-30

ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 13:7-16
Brethren, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Grace is participation in God’s energies. (Grace as a Participation in God’s Energies). We have a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us who serve as examples of this participation. They received their reward.

The Altar of the Lord

This is a Eucharistic passage. The altar we eat from is where the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are sacrificed. This altar is far superior since the One who gives us life is Himself present in the sacrifice. The fact that the sacrifice was outside the camp indicates that it was not found in the Temple sacrifices.