An Invitation to Intimacy
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Hebrews 4:14–5:10
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Every high priest is taken from among men and made a representative of men before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not for Christ to take on the glory of becoming a high priest. Rather, it was God who said to him: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you.” Just as he says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts a prayer for the grace to be vulnerable with Jesus. We must ask for the courage to lay bare our weaknesses, our fears, and our struggles at his feet, trusting in his perfect empathy and unconditional love. Pray for the grace to allow him to act freely in you, knowing that he is the source of eternal salvation and wants to complete the work he started in you.
Reflection
When I read this passage, I feel my heart expanding, overwhelmed by the tenderness of Jesus. He is not some distant deity, but a high priest who has passed through the heavens yet remains profoundly connected to our human experience. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses because he was similarly tested in every way. He knows what it’s like to feel the weight of temptation, the sting of sorrow, and the exhaustion of human life. He cried with loud cries and tears and learned obedience through what he suffered. This isn’t just a story; it’s the raw, unfiltered truth of a God who emptied himself completely for me. He isn’t afraid of my mess, my failures, or my doubts. Instead, he beckons me to confidently approach the throne of grace and receive the mercy and help I need.
This is the Jesus who desires to save me—not from a distance, but in a deeply personal and transformative way. The love he has for me is not a transactional love, but a boundless, sacrificial, and intimate love that seeks my heart. It’s a love that transforms me from the inside out, making me more and more like him. He invites me into a life of purpose—to be his partner in restoring all of creation. This is the Baptismal mission of every Christian: to allow his saving love to flow freely through me, to be a conduit of his mercy, grace, and hope. I can’t keep this love to myself; it must be shared, spoken, and lived out in every encounter I have, because the world is longing for the very love that Jesus has for me, for you, for all of us.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing isn’t always about bold pronouncements or dramatic conversions. Most of the time, it’s about small acts of love that reflect the heart of Jesus. Here are some ways to live out your Baptismal mission:
Pray for people. Silently pray for the people you encounter throughout the day—the barista who serves you coffee, the cashier at the grocery store, or the person you pass on the street.
Listen more than you speak. Be fully present with people in your life—family, friends, and coworkers. When someone shares their struggles, listen with compassion, as Jesus would, without judgment or a need to fix things.
Practice acts of service. Do a small act of kindness for a neighbor, offer to help a coworker with a project, or simply hold the door open for a stranger with a smile. These simple acts demonstrate the love of Christ in a tangible way.
Share your story authentically. When appropriate, share how Jesus has impacted your life. Don’t be preachy; just speak from your heart about a time he helped you or gave you strength.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post