Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.
25 Grace be with you all.
Benediction … Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. … Benediction comes from the Latin, bene (well) and dicere (to speak).The Benediction in the liturgy comes at the end of the Mass and is given by the bishop, whenever present, or by the priest. The Benediction is not just a “well speaking” or pious wish on the part of the bishop or priest, it is an actual conferring of God’s blessing upon His people through his ministers.
The prototype for the Benediction is found in Numbers 6:
22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: 24 The Lord bless you, and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ 27 So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”
Israel was formed into a congregation by Jehovah, who not only bestowed His blessings upon them but placed the communication of these blessings in the hands of His priests, Aaron and his sons. “Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel.” This substance of God’s blessing, the communication of which God enjoined on the priests, was to be manifested in His people with all the power of a blessing from God. “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I … will bless them!”When God’s priests blessed God’s people … the people were truly blessed!
When I first became an Anglican priest, I was shopping in the frozen food section of a local grocery store when out of the corner of my eye I saw a women making a beeline in my direction.She came up to me, knelt down, and asked me to bless her. I was a little startled, but then remembering I was wearing my clerical collar, I blessed her using the benediction from Numbers 6. This woman did not know me but she knew the office … and she sought God’s blessing through His priest.Imagine that!This woman understood what many will never quite grasp: “So [the priests] shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I … will bless them!”
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Many priests are reluctant to comment of this verse for fear of coming across as self-serving. So why should we obey and submit to the leaders in the Church? Because bishops, priests and deacons keep watch over the souls in their cure. The cure of souls (Lat. cura animarum) is exercised through instruction, by sermons, teachings, exhortations and admonitions, and sanctification, through the sacraments, of the faithful. Bishops, priests and deacons will give an account of their office to God. Bishops, priests and deacons do not serve themselves; they serve God and God’s people.In Malachi 2 God’s priests are called to special service before God:
The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
And St Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5: 12 But we request of you, brethren, that you respect those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
“Let them [keep watch over your souls] with joy and not with grief.”Grief was often Moses’ experience when leading Israel. Israel’s obstinacy, contentiousness and complaining brought Moses to grief. From this week’s OT reading:
Numbers 11:10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. 11 So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? 12 Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat!’ 14 I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. 15 So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”
If I have found favor in your sight please kill me now!? Wow! I must confess that I have never felt that overwhelmed as a priest, nor have I been foolish enough to suggest this to God as an option. For I am, and remain, convinced of better things concerning God’s people.
JSH+