Today’s epistle reading is from the letter to the Hebrews, chapter seven, verses one through six:

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

We hear in today’s epistle to the Hebrews about the Old Testamental figure of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a very important person because, in the epistle to the Hebrews, we learn that Jesus has an eternal priesthood. However, his priesthood is not under the priesthood under the Levites, but rather he is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, because Melchizedek has no beginning nor an end. Regarding this, here’s a rather lengthy but very important quote from St. Cyprian of Carthage.

Also in the priest Melchizedek we see prefigured the sacrament of the sacrifice of the Lord, according to what divine Scripture testifies and says, “And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. Now he was a priest of the Most High God and blessed Abraham.” And that Melchizedek bore a type of Christ, the Holy Spirit declares in the psalms, saying from the person of the Father to the Son, “Before the morning star I begat you. You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” That order is assuredly this: coming from that sacrifice and thence descending, that Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God, that he offered wine and bread, that he blessed Abraham. For who is more a priest of the Most High God than our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered a sacrifice to God the Father, and offered that very same thing which Melchizedek had offered, that is, bread and wine? To wit, his body and blood.

And with respect to Abraham, that blessing going before belonged to our people. For if Abraham believed in God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness, assuredly whosoever believes in God and lives in faith is found righteous and already is blessed in faithful Abraham and is set forth as justified. This the blessed Apostle Paul proves when he says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” So you see that it is people of faith who are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So, then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. Thus in the gospel we find that children of Abraham are raised from stones, that is, are gathered from the Gentiles. And when the Lord praised Zacchaeus, he answered and said, “Today salvation has come to this house,” because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

In Genesis, therefore, that the benediction in respect of Abraham by Melchizedek the priest might be dually celebrated, the figure of Christ’s sacrifice precedes, namely, as ordained in bread and wine. The Lord, completing and fulfilling, offered bread and the cup mixed with wine. And so he who is the fullness of truth fulfilled the truth of the image prefigured.

Today’s gospel reading is from St. Mark, chapter 10, verses 17 through 27.

Now as he was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

About today’s gospel reading, St. Clement of Alexandria writes:

The Savior by no means has excluded the rich on account of wealth itself and the possession of property, nor fenced off salvation against them, if they are able and willing to submit their life to God’s commandments and prefer them to transitory things. Let them look to the Lord with a steady eye, as those who look toward the slightest nod of a good helmsmen, what he wishes, what he orders, what he indicates, what signal he gives his mariners, where and when he directs the ship’s course. If one is able in the midst of wealth to turn from its mystique, to entertain moderate desires, to exercise self-control, to seek God alone, and to breathe God and walk with God, such a man submits to the commandments, being free, unsubdued, free of disease, unwounded by wealth; but if not, sooner shall a camel enter through a needle’s eye than such a rich man reach the kingdom of God.

Let us desire God above all things so that we may achieve true wealth: the kingdom of heaven.

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us: to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.