Leviticus 9:1-24
The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. – Leviticus 9:23b
Click to read the full passage
After the 7-day ordination process, Aaron and his sons were given their first duties of preparing and offering up the sacrifices as prescribed by the Lord through Moses. The priestly ministry had begun.
Curiously, even though Aaron and the priests had been in the Tent of Meeting for the last seven days, when they came again before the Lord, Aaron still had to bring a sin offering for himself, before he could offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The week-long consecration ceremony did not make Aaron perfect; neither the office of the high priest nor the previous offerings were able to keep Aaron sinless. Each time he came before the Lord, he had to deal with his own sins first, and only then could he stand as God’s mediator to bless the people and to enter into the Holy Place where God’s presence was. And so began the rest of his life—a life that started and ended daily with a burnt offering.
The priests were not in this role for their personal benefit. The whole consecration process— the washing and anointing, the waiting with and for the Lord, the act of identifying with the people—was done so that they could be a blessing to the people and prepare them to encounter God’s glory. The goal of the sacrificial system, the priesthood, the rules and laws of worship was to enable the people to meet with God.
We too are called a royal priesthood, chosen to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pet 2:9). With Christ as our Head and High Priest, we are called to stand in between God and the world and to relay God’s love and presence to the people we meet. But we can’t be instruments of mediation between God and man until we ourselves are in a right relationship with God. Before we proclaim the goodness of our holy God, our lives must reflect his holiness. Before we can go out and bless others, we must first go into the place of meeting with God and be sanctified. Communion with God comes before the serving of others. Daily communion, even morning and night (if we are to follow the schedule of the priests), is absolutely necessary. Otherwise our service may prove futile.
The Tent of Meeting was also called the Tabernacle, which means “a place of dwelling.” As God has come to dwell in us through his Spirit, each of us has become a tabernacle, a place of meeting, that’s supposed to mediate or facilitate encounters with God. The goal of our mediation, our going out to share the good news of God’s love to those around us, our constant prayers for non-believing family and friends, is so that they, too, will come to meet with God and worship him together with his people.
Reflection:
Under the authority and commission of our Lord, the High Priest, we are called to be both priests and tabernacles. Have we been prioritising our communion with God?
Strengthened by the deep intimacy we share with God, have we been consciously bringing God’s presence into our interactions with others?
How can we be faithful priests and tabernacles and facilitate meetings with God today?
Prayer:
Most Holy Father, you didn’t just save and cleanse us, but you also send us out to do your work of salvation, so that more people can be saved. Give us grace today to be your priests and tabernacles, to bring your presence and love into every task and conversation today. Make us channels of peace, reconciliation, and harmony. May we, by our lives, draw people to meet and encounter you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Click to read the full passage
After the 7-day ordination process, Aaron and his sons were given their first duties of preparing and offering up the sacrifices as prescribed by the Lord through Moses. The priestly ministry had begun.
Curiously, even though Aaron and the priests had been in the Tent of Meeting for the last seven days, when they came again before the Lord, Aaron still had to bring a sin offering for himself, before he could offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The week-long consecration ceremony did not make Aaron perfect; neither the office of the high priest nor the previous offerings were able to keep Aaron sinless. Each time he came before the Lord, he had to deal with his own sins first, and only then could he stand as God’s mediator to bless the people and to enter into the Holy Place where God’s presence was. And so began the rest of his life—a life that started and ended daily with a burnt offering.
The priests were not in this role for their personal benefit. The whole consecration process— the washing and anointing, the waiting with and for the Lord, the act of identifying with the people—was done so that they could be a blessing to the people and prepare them to encounter God’s glory. The goal of the sacrificial system, the priesthood, the rules and laws of worship was to enable the people to meet with God.
We too are called a royal priesthood, chosen to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pet 2:9). With Christ as our Head and High Priest, we are called to stand in between God and the world and to relay God’s love and presence to the people we meet. But we can’t be instruments of mediation between God and man until we ourselves are in a right relationship with God. Before we proclaim the goodness of our holy God, our lives must reflect his holiness. Before we can go out and bless others, we must first go into the place of meeting with God and be sanctified. Communion with God comes before the serving of others. Daily communion, even morning and night (if we are to follow the schedule of the priests), is absolutely necessary. Otherwise our service may prove futile.
The Tent of Meeting was also called the Tabernacle, which means “a place of dwelling.” As God has come to dwell in us through his Spirit, each of us has become a tabernacle, a place of meeting, that’s supposed to mediate or facilitate encounters with God. The goal of our mediation, our going out to share the good news of God’s love to those around us, our constant prayers for non-believing family and friends, is so that they, too, will come to meet with God and worship him together with his people.
Reflection:
Under the authority and commission of our Lord, the High Priest, we are called to be both priests and tabernacles. Have we been prioritising our communion with God?
Strengthened by the deep intimacy we share with God, have we been consciously bringing God’s presence into our interactions with others?
How can we be faithful priests and tabernacles and facilitate meetings with God today?
Prayer:
Most Holy Father, you didn’t just save and cleanse us, but you also send us out to do your work of salvation, so that more people can be saved. Give us grace today to be your priests and tabernacles, to bring your presence and love into every task and conversation today. Make us channels of peace, reconciliation, and harmony. May we, by our lives, draw people to meet and encounter you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.