From what we have seen in the last Post, it is clear that there was some sort of priesthood among all types of peoples of the world from the very beginning. What is the connection between the priesthood of Christ, especially before the Incarnation, and those kinds of priesthood? We must say that Jesus Christ as the Word of God exerting influence over all peoples made use of their Institutions of priesthood to lead those people to God, however imperfect their forms and rituals were. We see glimpses of Monotheism among the general tendency of polytheistic practices and abolition of the heinous practices of human sacrifices in certain religions. These are just examples of the illumination of human minds flowing from the Word of God existing with Him from eternity. In other words, these are cases of the discrete functions of the priesthood of Christ before the Incarnation. The same may be said about the highly developed philosophies of Greece and India enlightening the minds of so many people aiding them in dispelling superstitions and dissuading them from deviant practices.
How do we explain so many inhuman and irrational practices found in all kinds and races of peoples, if Jesus Christ as the Word of God was exercising his priestly functions even before his Incarnation? The deviant practices arise from the divided nature of men and women hinted at earlier, as a result of which they are at a loss in doing the good they want to do. If even people who want to do good are unable to do as per their desire, what would be the pathetic condition of those who want to do evil or are prone to promote their own selfish motives? The priesthood of Christ is exercised as enlightenment of human minds as well as a healing inner strength that should be freely accepted by us in order to benefit ourselves. The freedom of everyone to accept or reject inspirations from above is clearly evident from the fact that , even after the unique sacrifice of Christ and institution of the Church with its own priesthood, ignorance, superstitions and deviant practices are not completely absent even in the followers of Christ. God is very particular to safeguard and promote our freedom that He reluctantly allows waywardness from our part until we see our folly and return to His love that is inexhaustible. Unless we use our freedom responsibly, how shall we be able to participate in the nature of God Himself that is our ultimate destiny? the fact that people can reject light and inspiration from above is very well brought out by Paul in his Letter to the Romans in chapters 1&2.
Paul pinpoints the fundamental fault that prevents men and women from acknowledging God and His sovereignty over everything as stifling the truth on their wicked ways(Romans, 1: 18). This is in spite of the fact that all that may be known of God by them lies plain before their eyes besides the fact that God Himself has disclosed it to them. The eye of Reason, a unique gift bestowed on us by God, alone is enough to see His invisible attributes in the things He has made. They have no excuse to pretend that they do not or cannot know God as they pride themselves to be sharp enough to understand the worldly wisdom that too requires application of their Reason. Theoretically speaking, they could not defend themselves against their ignorance of God and therefore they showed it practically in their refusal to honor God and thank him. As a result of this kind of their behavior, God too abandoned them to their wicked devices leading them to all kinds of depravity making them real fools although they themselves claimed to be wise people. Knowing the just decree of God that those who engage in such practices deserve to die, they not only go on doing the same things but also actually applaud those who imitate them (Romans, 1: 19-32). The duty of priests to advice and admonish people to turn away from the path of death to one of life shows the relevance of priesthood in religions.
No one is allowed to sit in judgement about the behavior of other people as God alone is the true and just Judge, although His kindness and patience have kept it in check for the Day of Judgement. Since God has no favorites and everyone would be judged according to their conscience, all are invited to pursue life in tune with the enlightenment and graces they have received, within the Law or outside of the Law. When God judges the secrets of the human hearts through Christ Jesus, their conscience will be called as witness and their thoughts themselves will accuse or excuse them (Romans, 2: 1-16). Paul says that this is what his Gospel declares and we see how Jesus Christ is mentioned as the criterion of judgement of every human being. This is in consonance with what we read in John's Gospel 5:22 that the Father does not judge anyone having left all judgement to the Son who will actually be the criterion of judgement instead of being the judge himself (John, 8: 15). Here we see the role of Christ's priesthood as the criterion of all kinds of priesthood just as he himself is going to be the criterion of judgement on the Day of Judgement. Jesus Christ qualified himself to be this Criterion in virtue of being the eternal victim and priest as the Lamb of God slain from the beginning of the world (Revelation, 13: 8).
How do we explain so many inhuman and irrational practices found in all kinds and races of peoples, if Jesus Christ as the Word of God was exercising his priestly functions even before his Incarnation? The deviant practices arise from the divided nature of men and women hinted at earlier, as a result of which they are at a loss in doing the good they want to do. If even people who want to do good are unable to do as per their desire, what would be the pathetic condition of those who want to do evil or are prone to promote their own selfish motives? The priesthood of Christ is exercised as enlightenment of human minds as well as a healing inner strength that should be freely accepted by us in order to benefit ourselves. The freedom of everyone to accept or reject inspirations from above is clearly evident from the fact that , even after the unique sacrifice of Christ and institution of the Church with its own priesthood, ignorance, superstitions and deviant practices are not completely absent even in the followers of Christ. God is very particular to safeguard and promote our freedom that He reluctantly allows waywardness from our part until we see our folly and return to His love that is inexhaustible. Unless we use our freedom responsibly, how shall we be able to participate in the nature of God Himself that is our ultimate destiny? the fact that people can reject light and inspiration from above is very well brought out by Paul in his Letter to the Romans in chapters 1&2.
Paul pinpoints the fundamental fault that prevents men and women from acknowledging God and His sovereignty over everything as stifling the truth on their wicked ways(Romans, 1: 18). This is in spite of the fact that all that may be known of God by them lies plain before their eyes besides the fact that God Himself has disclosed it to them. The eye of Reason, a unique gift bestowed on us by God, alone is enough to see His invisible attributes in the things He has made. They have no excuse to pretend that they do not or cannot know God as they pride themselves to be sharp enough to understand the worldly wisdom that too requires application of their Reason. Theoretically speaking, they could not defend themselves against their ignorance of God and therefore they showed it practically in their refusal to honor God and thank him. As a result of this kind of their behavior, God too abandoned them to their wicked devices leading them to all kinds of depravity making them real fools although they themselves claimed to be wise people. Knowing the just decree of God that those who engage in such practices deserve to die, they not only go on doing the same things but also actually applaud those who imitate them (Romans, 1: 19-32). The duty of priests to advice and admonish people to turn away from the path of death to one of life shows the relevance of priesthood in religions.
No one is allowed to sit in judgement about the behavior of other people as God alone is the true and just Judge, although His kindness and patience have kept it in check for the Day of Judgement. Since God has no favorites and everyone would be judged according to their conscience, all are invited to pursue life in tune with the enlightenment and graces they have received, within the Law or outside of the Law. When God judges the secrets of the human hearts through Christ Jesus, their conscience will be called as witness and their thoughts themselves will accuse or excuse them (Romans, 2: 1-16). Paul says that this is what his Gospel declares and we see how Jesus Christ is mentioned as the criterion of judgement of every human being. This is in consonance with what we read in John's Gospel 5:22 that the Father does not judge anyone having left all judgement to the Son who will actually be the criterion of judgement instead of being the judge himself (John, 8: 15). Here we see the role of Christ's priesthood as the criterion of all kinds of priesthood just as he himself is going to be the criterion of judgement on the Day of Judgement. Jesus Christ qualified himself to be this Criterion in virtue of being the eternal victim and priest as the Lamb of God slain from the beginning of the world (Revelation, 13: 8).
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