It was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.(Hebrews 9:23-28)
RESPONSORY
Christ came as the high priest of the good things which are to be. Not with the blood of goats or calves, but with his own blood – he entered the holy place once for all, and won our eternal salvation.
He did not enter a holy place fashioned by man, he entered heaven itself. – he entered the holy place once for all, and won our eternal salvation.
From the poetry of St. Ephrem the Syrian (+373)
Like the publican I sigh, like the harlot I shed tears, like the thief I call out, like the prodigal son I entreat you. O Christ my Savior and Lover of humanity, strengthen my soul which has grown faint, which has been paralyzed with the intoxication of delights; heal its scabs and wash it, blackened with sin, with your honorable blood!
Our error is much mightier than our prayer. Our prayer is insignificant, but our guilt is great. What sacrifice could we bring to reconcile ourselves with you? We have nothing to give to you. Thus we ask you to reconcile us by your blood, O All-merciful One.
Praise be to the Good One Who descended for our sake, became like unto us and healed our sores by His all-sanctifying flesh and His all-sanctifying blood! May all sing praises to Him!
My Savior cries out to me, to His disciple: do not despair of thy salvation; I will restore you and forgive you your sins. I have found you and I will not leave you; for I have redeemed you with My very own Blood.
You, O Jesus, have redeemed all with your blood; and by your death you have bound the powerful adversary. Release me from the fetters of the evil one; break his shackles and bonds.
With your life-creating Body, of which I have partaken, preserve me from impure lust, that I might lie down and fall asleep in peace. May your Blood protect me. And grant my soul, that is your image, the freedom that is proper to your image. And by your right arm shelter my body that was made by your hands.
Behold the cup of your terrifying blood, filled with light and life. Grant us understanding and enlightenment, that with the love and sanctity of faith we might approach it and that it might be unto us for the forgiveness of sins and not for condemnation.
What shall I do with my sins? I do not know. My mind cannot imagine what I might use to wash and cleanse myself. If I took it into my head to wash with water, then the seas and the rivers would not be sufficient to cleanse me. Yet if I wash myself with the blood and water that flowed from the rib of the Son of God, then will I be cleansed, and compassion will be showered upon me.
Musical Selection
Great High Priest, we view Thee stooping, With our names upon Thy breast, In the garden groaning, drooping, To the ground with horrors pressed. Weeping angels stand confounded, To behold their Maker thus, And can we remain unwounded, When we know ’twas all for us?
On the cross Thy body broken, Cancels every penal tie; Tempted souls, produce this token All demands to satisfy. All is finished; do not doubt it, But believe your dying Lord; Never reason more about it, Only take Him at His Word.
Lord, we fain would trust Thee solely; ’Twas for us Thy blood was spilt; Bruised Bridegroom, take us wholly, Take, and make us what Thou wilt. Thou hast borne the bitter sentence Passed on man’s devoted race; True belief and true repentance Are Thy gifts, Thou God of grace.
Collect
Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.(Feast of the Precious Blood; Traditional)