YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
A Levitical priest ceased being a priest upon his death and the priesthood was passed on to his sons. This was in contrast to Melchizedek, a Gentile priest during the time of Abraham. The Bible is deliberately silent about his ancestry as a symbol that he did not inherit his priesthood.
Jesus is compared to Melchizedek in order to emphasize that His priesthood is different from the Levitical priesthood. He does not inherit His priesthood but is made a priest directly by His heavenly Father. Moreover, Christ's priesthood does not end with His death but continues because He is a priest forever. Incidentally, the episode in today's Gospel is just one instance whereby Jesus is showing that He supersedes the old order.
Melchizedek, as a priest of God Most High and King of Salem (that is, of peace), offered bread and wine. This is why the author of the Book of Hebrews pointed out this parallel his priesthood to that of Jesus', Whose priesthood is based on appointment by God. This link to the signs we have used throughout the centuries should move all of us deeply. Verse five of today's Gospel passage records two of Jesus' emotions on which we religiously observe. "Jesus looked around at them with anger [that is the Pharisees, who were blind to Jesus' teachings] and Jesus was grieved at their hardness of heart" (Mk 3:5a).
Most significant for us is the fact that we do not worship alone at Mass. Jesus, the Priest, is with us. He is present and active in each of us by virtue of our Baptism, and in the clergy by virtue of Ordination. He is present and active in the inspired Word of Scripture and in a pre-eminent way in the Eucharist. Jesus, as Priest, is our mediator. He brings the Father's truth and love to us, and He presents our prayers and sacrifice to the Father.
What we do at Mass has great meaning and value not because of ourselves, but solely because of Jesus Christ. He is our Priest and He is among us at this moment because He is "a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 7:17). We need to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and deaconate.
Let us pray in a special way today for our priests!