In the first reading today we find Moses telling the Israelites all that the Lord taught him on the mountain. The people listen to him and all of them as one, promise to do all that the Lord has commanded them. Moses goes on to write down everything the Lord had said and then he reads it to the people again. They once again affirm their obedience to all that the Lord has commanded and a new covenant is established between God and man. We all know what happens soon after. Time and time again, the Israelites break the law and therefore break their part of the covenant.

The priests of the old covenant had a ritual whereby the blood of calves and goats were sprinkled on the people who had sinned and they were cleaned. At least externally considered clean. But of course this ritual could never lead to ultimate cleansing or true in- ternal change. It was merely a symbol pointing to what was to come through Christ.

The reality is that no matter how well intentioned we are or how desperately we try we cannot always keep all the commandments of God. He is Holy. We are not. It is impossible for us by our own hu- man efforts to come before Him. It does not matter how much blood we sprinkle on our selves, how many sacrifices we offer to Him of our own efforts, how many novenas we pray or fasts we partake in. If our attempt in all of that is simply to make things right between us and God then it is all in vain.

But this is exactly why God sent His own beloved Son into this fallen world. Jesus the supreme High Priest entered into the heavenly sanctuary to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the fallen humanity once and for all. He did not come with the blood of bulls and goats, He did not come with tradition and rituals, but instead He came with that perfect offering of His very own blood.
His perfect and very costly sacrifice won for us our eternal salvation. Now we do get to come before God because we come covered in His own Righteousness. We get to come before the throne of God with boldness and joy, not because of anything good or right we have done but because we come through Him – Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God. Jesus the mediator between God and man.
I feel the Lord really emphasising this to me as I go through this season of learning to let go of control. Where He is really hitting home the point that it’s not anything I can do but rather what He has already done. The price is already paid. He does not expect me to go around with my dead works trying to pay a price that has already been settled.

The writer to the Hebrews says that the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from acts that lead to dead works. I love that. Often time in my daily struggles it’s my conscience that needs cleansing. I get so caught up in my brokenness and the imperfectness of my prayer life. I get caught up in a cycle of trying to do things to try and make up. But of course even my best efforts get me nowhere. But here I am reassured that the blood of Jesus, already shed on my behalf, already poured out for the atonement of my sins, has the power to effectively shut my conscience up. To remind me that the work is done. I only ever have to lift my heart to God and it will be received with joy. That no matter how imperfect and unworthy I may feel that when God looks at me, He sees me covered in the righteousness of His Son. The conscience that condemns me and puts me down and keeps me stuck in never ending cycles of tradition and rituals is lifted off. He sheds His light, His truth, His acceptance. I don’t have to go around the same old circles, His blood lifts me up right into the Presence of God.

How perfect! How wonderful! How utterly liberating is this truth! I only have to speak this truth over myself and remind myself – His blood cleanses my conscience so that I am free to serve the living God. My lack, my brokenness, my humanity does not stop me from pursuing and adoring God. I get to serve Him, I get to spend my days at His feet inspite of all of that because of Jesus. In Jesus’ own words, He offers Himself to us – ‘take it, this is My body… take this and drink, this is My blood, poured out for many”. Jesus paid the ultimate price for me. The least I could do is to take that risk and believe Him. To live a life that is worthy of Him. And to be honest, the more I know Him, this is all I want to do. I want Jesus in full all that He paid for.

Prayer: Abba Father, I thank you for the eternal gift of Your Son, of the price that was paid for me. Amen