...From the letter to the Hebrews, this trend continues as the write attempts to outline the hierarchy of heaven. Christ ascends to the right hand of God, a virtual equal, much superior to angels, being more excellent than them. Within this ordering is the placement and promotion of mere mortals. In spite of God’s infinite and immense power and presence, we as individuals limited to a single lifespan in one limited range of geography merit more consideration than all other aspects of creation.
It is humbling and amazing that puny us, as people of mistakes and misfortune, rank only a little lower than angels and have great glory and honour. And this ordering is not permanently fixed. Because the verse states that it is only for a little while that we bear this lower class. We see the writer note that for a time Jesus himself was lower than angels, equal to all humans tasting of death. This sacrifice was made and remembered so that we might all taste of eternal life.
We are perfected through our sufferings, leading to the axiom “that which does not kill us only makes us stronger”. It is hard in the midst of anguish and loss to see the lessons that might be taught, that we need some time and perspective, maybe a sympathetic ear or an outside opinion. For this reason, a community of faith relies on the people to come together in common cause, to support and serve one another, to sacrifice our effort and energy as we each take our place as a follower of Christ’s teaching.
This morning we gather around a table, to recall a moment in our faith tradition shaped by betrayal, political cowardice, great suffering and humiliation. Yet from this low point comes assurance, comfort and hope that our sins are forgiven, we are made new and that the evil in the world cannot ever conquer love.
In the letter to the Hebrews, we are called brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus, that we are of the same generation, of the same parenting, to be praised and glorified. So we are called together around the table to taste and celebrate a gathering of family, remembering past stories, to find nourishment for our spirit and make preparation to leave the table for a world that needs our care and compassion.
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