Monday of Second Week in Ord. Time, Year 1, Jan. 15,2007

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10. Psalm 110:1-4. Mark 2:18-22

The mysterious appearance of Melchisedek, a priest of the Most High God, is
featured in today's first reading and in our Psalm 110, a messianic royal
psalm. Melchisedek appears in the Book of Genesis 14:17-20 which is the
primary source for the other passages in the Bible which includes both the
Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament. The name appears
3 times in the Hebrew Scriptures and 8 times in the Christian Scriptures.
The Psalm is definitely constructed to honor the kings of Judah and those
who follow the royal lineage of David. It is considered in reference to
the messiaship of Jesus in the New Testament and is cited extensively in
our Epistle to the Hebrews which is a product of a Jewish convert in the
Diaspora (those Jews living outsied Israel). As I mentioned previously I
am strongly influenced by the great expert Ceslas Spicq, O.P. for
associating this work with Apollos, a convert of Paul. The writer uses the
best of Greek that is found in the New Tesatament. Today he is giving us a
central part of his Christology or the way he understands who Jesus is for
him and his community. He shows us the realness of Jesus' humanity by
telling us his anguishing cries and his shedding of tears. We have someone
who knows all of our miseries and problems and intercedes for us before the
Father. We see the mention of Melchisedek and how Jesus is similar to him
in the offering of bread and wine. Then in our Catholic tradition Psalm
110 is seen in the light of the permanent character in one who is ordained,
"You are a priest according to the order of Melchisdek." I see this name
Melchisedek meaning a "righteous king" who comes from Jerusalem (Salem)
which means "peace." I could not resist researching this from the Jewish
Study Bible and was rewarded with this statement," Melchisdek having the
double role of priest and king at Jerusalem, is seen as offering a
precedent for the similar roles of Davidic kings. Melchisedek played a
significant role in a Dead Sea Scroll and in early Jewish and Christian
literature, and it is likely that a variety of stories, no longer preserved
in the Bible circulated about him in the biblical period. (Jewish Study
Bible, Oxford Press, 2004, pp.1408-1409). When we enter into the
Eucharistic celebration we all share in the universal priesthood of Christ
and offer up bread and wine while praising the God of Abraham and the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.