“He himself is beset by weakness”

In yesterday’s first reading, we heard the high priest Eli give Samuel advice that would bring him closer to the Lord: “Reply, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Eli gave effective spiritual advice, but he himself was not a moral and spiritual superman. What the Lord would tell Samuel is that Eli and his family had earned condemnation.

Today’s first reading (Hebrews 5:1-10) reminds us of the limitations of the high priests:

He himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason,
must make sin offerings for himself...

As was the case then, so is the case now for you and me (and especially me).

We are beset by weakness and so must continually turn to God for forgiveness and aid.

We may make sacrifices and may learn from our mistakes and sufferings, but ultimately it is only by the grace of God that any of us can be saved: by the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his one, true, and perfect sacrifice.

We are beset with weakness.

May we humbly and penitentially rely on Christ.