What Shall I Do To Be Saved?

By Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil

Question 101. "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which never take away the sins." (Heb 10:11) Why then do you have the Holy Mass?

If you read this chapter it becomes obvious that it is referring to Jewish priest's, and their sacrifices, and not about the Holy Communion!

The New American Bible * is of the opinion Christian faith now realizes that the Old Testament sacrifices did not effect the spiritual benefits to come but only prefigured then (Heb 10:1).

1) For if the sacrifices had actually effected for forgiveness of sin, there would have been no reason for their constant repetition.
2) They were rather a continual reminder of the people's sins
3) It is not reasonable to suppose that human sins could be removed by the blood of animal sacrifices
4) Christ therefore is here shown to understand his mission in terms of Psalms 40: 6-8, cited according to the Septuagint (5-7).

Jesus acknowledged that Old Testament sacrifices did not remit the sins of the people and so perceiving the will of God, offered his own body for this purpose. (8-10).

Whereas the Levitical priesthood offered daily sacrifices that were ineffectual in remitting sins, Jesus offered a single sacrifice that won him a permanent place at God's right hand. There he has only to await the final outcome of his work (12-13, Psalms 110:1). Thus he has brought into being in his own person the new covenant prophesized by Jeremiah (Jera. 31:33-34) that has rendered meaningless all other offerings for sin (14-18)

[ *The New American Bible, page 349.]

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