The "In Between" Place
The priesthood in the scriptures is that ministry that stands in the gap between God and the People, facing God, and facing the people.
Christ is risen!
In World War 1, the two opposing armies would dig in and conduct what was then called “trench warfare.” The land between the two armies entrenched in the fight was called “no man’s land” because anybody who tried to attack would be shot by the other side!
Not a pleasant place to be. In fact, it’s a very dangerous place to be!
But recently, I was teaching after our regular Wednesday night service about the unique place the priest occupies during the Divine Liturgy. He stands with the people as we all face the altar together, AND he stands facing the people as he communicates God’s Good News to them. Sometimes it feels like a “no man’s land” being both participant and leader in the work of worship in the church.
Yet, we humans need this “both/and” ministry of the priesthood because we are all part of the Royal Priesthood of believers, and we are all called to stand before God and offer God to others in our lives through faithful living out of a purposeful Orthodoxy.
Look at our lesson today in Hebrews 7:26-28; 8:1-2:
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
St. Paul insists that Jesus is our High Priest, the priestly ministry that is the source and cause of all other priestly ministries. As a reminder, Hebrews was written to try and convince some Hebrew Christians to stay connected to the Church. This became especially important to these Hebrews who had been trained and formed by the liturgical life of the Temple to know just how important the High Priest really is!
And His priesthood isn’t like the human priesthood of the Old Testament. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices for His own sins daily and then for the people's sins. No, He offers Himself “once, for all” in His sacrifice on the Cross, and that sacrifice fulfills all sacrifices. Now, Jesus, in His resurrection and ascension, is “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.”
OK, you know me by now. You know, I insist that we answer the “so what” question when it comes to these deep and profound truths of our Faith.
And the “so what” is cosmically this: Jesus Christ, in His life, death, resurrection, ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father, and glorious second coming, fulfills all we humans need to heal the relationship between the created and the uncreated. He bridges the divide between the Eternal and the Mortal by rendering mortality impotent! And He does this, not for Himself, but wholly for us. He is our High Priest who stands in “no man’s land” in between the Uncreated God and Created persons. He lives in both worlds and heals the divide between them. He makes a home for us creatures in the Uncreated land of the Father.
In other words, He ends all hostility and division once and for all.
And now that is the message we offer everyone around us, by our faithfulness to this Faith; by our choices and priorities and actions. And yes, by our proclaiming as well. We are all called to participate, according to our callings, in this final and finished Priesthood. We are called to stand “in-between” our heavenly home and the world that seems intent on destroying itself with one hand extended in thanksgiving to the Lord Who loves us and the other extended to the world He loves and longs to save.
Two sisters are remembered today, and they are famous heroes of the Faith. Mary and Martha, the sisters of St. Lazarus, are such powerful examples of people who struggle to really know Jesus Christ. these women were Myrrth-bearers and especially close to Christ in His earthly ministry. It is significant that we remember them because these ladies show us that our initial misconceptions about Christ and the life of Faith can be overcome IF we are willing to focus our lives on Jesus. Sts. Mary and Martha traveled with their brother St. Lazarus to the island of Cyprus when St. Lazarus was made bishop of the city of Kition, and there they reposed in peace.
Today, every one of us has some “in-between” place that we live in. It may be the “in-between” place of marriage where sometimes you’re the strong one, and sometimes you’re the weak one! It may be the “in-between” place at your job or in your social group. But, if you allow the wisdom of the Church to teach you how to be there with faithfulness and joy, you’ll begin to learn what it means to have a Normal Orthodox life.
P.S. In the town of Bethany, you dwelt of old; now in Heaven, you abide in Paradise, where our Lord's countenance shines. For you gave your hearts and souls up with fervent longing unto Him that is the Life and the Resurrection; as you stand on high, O Mary and Martha, pray Him to grant salvation to us.