The sacrifice of Melchizedek is a prophecy through action of the Catholic Mass. Fr. William G. Most in his book “Free from All Error (1985 ps. 19-20) explains the interpretation of Scripture according to four senses: literal, typical, accommodative, and the fuller sense. He defines the typical sense as “one in which there is what might be called a prophecy through action instead of words.” This is why the most important thing about Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem is his sacrifice of bread and wine: “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! And Abram gave him a tenth of everything (Gn 14:18-20).” This is the second Old Testament mention of him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4). Later in the New Testament, the Letter to the Hebrews explores the significance of Melchizedek in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Jesus was made a priest in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron (See Hb 7:11). His priesthood is a complete break with the Levite priesthood as asserted in Ps 110:4. Therefore, “This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant (Hb 7:22).” Since Catholic priests are ordained into the priesthood of Jesus Christ, they also are priests “forever after the order of Melchizedek” and share in this better covenant. The connections become even more significant when you realize that Melchizedek offered bread and wine when he blessed Abram. Jesus Christ at the Last Supper used bread and wine and changed them into his Body and Blood. Every Catholic priest following the command of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me (Lk 22:19), uses bread and wine to change them into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ on hundreds of our altars all around the world. So Melchizedek and his offering is a prophecy though action of the Catholic Mass. What does your religious community or irreligious community think of the significance of Melchizedek?
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 06:18:08 +0000
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