“We have a great high priest and He is Christ”
What does a high priest do? St. Thomas Aquinas explains the comparison made by the
Letter to the Hebrews between Christ and the Jewish high priests A high priest must
represent people because he is one of them: “For every high priest chosen from among
men, ought to be human. God willed that we have someone like ourselves to whom we
might run” (Commentary on Ephesians, 241). Jesus took our nature in the Incarnation
so that we could “run” to Him..
A high priest must represent the best qualities of those whom he represents: “If he is
chosen, he should excel the others … Accordingly, Christ asks Peter, whom He wished
to set over the others, if he loved Him more than the others (Jn. 21:15)” (Commentary
on Ephesians, 241).
The high priest doesn’t represent his own interests but those of the people: “The end
and purpose is that he is appointed to act on behalf of people, i.e., for their benefit. He
is not appointed for glory or for accumulating riches or for enriching his family”
(Commentary on Ephesians, 241).
Thomas recognizes this attitude of self-giving in the words of St. Paul: “And ourselves,
your servants through Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:5); “According to the power which the Lord has
given me unto edification and not unto destruction” (2 Cor. 13:10).
Thomas concludes: “If he seeks his own, he is not a shepherd, but a hireling”
(Commentary on Ephesians, 241).
The high priest is given dignity: “The nature of the dignity is that the high priest is set
over the others. For just as a leader or ruler is set over a city, so the high priest in the
things that pertain to God: ‘You shall be to him in things that pertain to God’ (Ex. 4:16)”
(Commentary on Ephesians, 243).
The high priest must have compassion for the people: “He shows what is required in the
exercise of the high priesthood, namely, pity” (Commentary on Ephesians, 245).
The high priest brings the needs of the people to God and God’s mercy to people: “He
must be in the things that pertain to God; yet he should be mediator between man and
God, as Moses said, ‘I was the mediator and stood between the Lord and you at that
time’ (Dt. 5:5). Therefore, just as he should by the devotion of prayer reach God as one
extreme, so by mercy and compassion he should reach man, the other extreme. He can
have compassion on the ignorant and wayward: ‘Who is weak and I am not weak?’ (2
Cor. 11:29)” ((Commentary on Ephesians, 246).
The high priest understands the weakness of others through his own weakness: “The
motive for mercy is mentioned when he says, became he himself is beset with infirmity.
That motive is infirmity, and those who are sometimes infirm: ‘But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels’ (2 Cor. 4:7). The reason for this is that he may have compassion on
the infirmities of others. This is the reason why the Lord permitted Peter to fall: ‘Judge
the disposition of your neighbor by yourself’ (Sir. 31:18)” (Commentary on Ephesians,
247)
Thomas affirms that Christ did not seek human glory: “Christ not only did not make
Himself high priest nor did He exalt Himself: ‘I seek not my own glory; there is one that
seeks and judges’ (Jn. 8:50), and later: ‘It is my Father that glorifies Me’ (Jn. 8:54). This
is true, insofar as He is man, because as God He has the same glory as the Father
(Commentary on Ephesians, 251)
The high priest makes offerings to God: “The act of the high priest is to offer gifts, i.e.,
voluntary oblations, not extorted …” (Commentary on Ephesians, 244).
Christ’s offering was Himself: “He offered Himself to God the Father: ‘He loved us and
gave himself for us an oblation and offering to God’ (Eph. 5:2)” (Commentary on
Ephesians, 252).
In this Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 10:46-52), we see Jesus as a high priest who gives mercy.
A great crowd followed Jesus. Thomas remarks about the crowd: “Because many
followed Him, the Lord was solicitous about them, just as much as the solicitude of the
harvester… as if they were His sheep; ‘My sheep hear My voice (Jn 3:27)”
(Commentary on Matthew, 20, 29).
Bartimeus sits at the side of the road. Thomas thinks the road may signify Christ, “I am
the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn14:6). When he hears that it is Jesus, he begins
to cry out…’ (Mk10:47). According to Thomas, Bartimeus “… heard through preaching,
because Jesus passed through according to His human nature, so that He might
undergo death, in order to cure the sick … (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 30).
Bartimeus calls out, ”Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” (Mk 10:47). Thomas
observes that Bartimeus confesses Jesus to be both God and man. The mercy he
requests, ”was proper to God.” In addressing Jesus as “Son of David,” he “confesses
His humanity” (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 47).
Mark tells us, “Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the
more…” (Mk 10:48). Thomas considers that thosei n the crowd had different reasons for
rebuking him. Some venerated Christ and considered Bartimeus’ shouting as
disrespectful. Other “scorned Christ” and rejected His claim to relationship with David.
Thomas proposes a “mystical” significance. Some people are “blinded by sin.” When
they cry to the Lord, ‘Have mercy on us,’ “the multitude of carnal thoughts and of carnal
men rebuke them for coming to Christ” (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 31).
Job complained, “Various thoughts succeed one another in me, and my mind is hurried
away to different things” (Job 20:2).
Thomas insists, “A man ought to be constant against this and to fight and labor
manfully, just as the Apostle teaches, ‘Labor as a good soldier of Christ Jesus’ (2 Tim
2:3). But the word of God is not hindered by the words of men and so ‘they cried out all
the more’” (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 31).
Mark tells us: “Jesus stopped” (Mk 10:49). Thomas asks, why Jesus stood still. Thomas
reflects: “Here the Lord’s mercy is shown, because He stood… There is a mystical
meaning, namely, that, by coming into the world, He stirred up men to seek salvation,
but by standing, He gave it. Hence, by the Incarnation, men are helped, but by His
teaching and persevering, they are healed” (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 32).
Jesus asks Bartimeus, “What do you want Me to do for you? (Mk 10:50). Thomas says,
“He examines his will … He does not ask so that He may know, but so that He might
give us to understand that He satisfies the wishes of those who ask piously”
(Commentary on Matthew, 20, 32).
Thomas reflects: “He showed mercy on him. For He does everything out of mercy: ‘The
mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed’ (Lam 3:22) (Commentary on Matthew,
20, 32).
Bartimeus received his sight. Mark tells us “He followed Him” (Mk 10:52). Thomas
comments that Bartimeus was not ungrateful. Other leave the Lord once they have
received a favor (Commentary on Matthew, 20, 34).
Denis Vincent Wiseman, O.P.