Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy ‘on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.(Hebrews 10:19-31)
RESPONSORY
We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, -- by the new and living way that he opened for us.
We have a great priest over the house of God. Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. -- by the new and living way that he opened for us.
A prayer by Bishop Francesco Albertini (+1819)
“O most precious Blood of eternal life, mercy and ransom of the entire universe, drink and bath of our Souls, which continuously protect the cause of humanity before the throne of the supreme Mercy, I adore you profoundly, and wish as much as is possible for me to compensate you for the injuries and mistreatment that you continually receive from human beings, and especially from those who boldly burn to blaspheme you . And who will not bless this Blood of infinite value? Who will not feel on fire with emotion toward Jesus who sheds this Blood? Who would I be if I had not been redeemed by this Divine Blood? Who has not drawn Blood from the veins of my Lord to the last drop? Ah! This was certainly love! Oh! Immense love, which has given us this most salutary balm! Oh! Priceless balm that flowed from the font of an immense love. Alas! Make all hearts and all tongues to adore you, praise you and give you thanks now and forever, and until the day of eternity . Amen .”
Musical Selection(Michael Card)
Year after year there the priest would stand
An offering of blood held out in in his hand
Before the curtain there he would stand in fright
It hung there to hold in the holy to keep in the light
A new and living way
Through the curtain that was torn
The climax of the cross
The moment our hope was born
By a new and living way
And when time was full another Priest came to save
He would offer forgiveness for He was the Offering He gave
From the sacrifice from that dark disgrace
Came the power to make anywhere a Most Holy Place
A new and living way
Through the curtain that was torn
The climax of the cross
The moment our Hope was born
By a new and living way
With confidence we come
So let us come now with confidence
With sprinkled hearts with reverence
And hold unswervingly to that Hope
As we look and see that day approach
A new and living way
A new and living way
A new and living way
Through the curtain that was torn
The climax of the cross
The moment our Hope was born
A new and living way
Through the curtain that was torn
The Climax of the cross
The moment our HOPE was born
By a New and Living Way
A New and Living WAY
A New and Living WAY
Collect
God of our salvation and our freedom,
you have redeemed us by the blood of your Son.
Hear the voices of your people
and grant that through you we may have life
and in you find eternal refuge.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.(Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter)