Ascension Sunday: The Priesthood of Jesus

Today’s Second reading for this Ascension Sunday is taken from the letter to the Hebrews, and the book’s author has an interesting interpretation of the event of Christ’s Ascension into heaven. He sees Jesus, like the human high priest in the Temple, entering into the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum of the dwelling place of God. But Jesus does not enter like a human high priest with the blood of a bull or goat, but rather with his own blood, effectively atoning for the sins of the whole world and of all time. Now Jesus continues his priestly ministry of reconciliation through the men he has called to act in his person here on earth until we all attain to be with Jesus in heaven’s inner sanctum.