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Reality Check??? Hebrews 10:11-25  And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. (Hebrews 10:11) Darn it! Just as I’m starting to feel all good about myself, someone has to come along and burst my bubble. Just as I’m starting to think that maybe, maybe, I’m beginning to understand what it means to be clergy, what it means to be a Pastor, this passage from Hebrews has to be in the lectionary. Might as well have tossed cold water all over me. This really hurts, you know! Surely you understand what I’m talking about, don’t you? Come on now, be honest with me and with yourself. From time to time, we start to think that we’ve really got a handle on life, that we really know what the answers are to life’s great questions and challenges. As Christians, we’re always being told to follow in the footsteps of the one whose name we carry. We’re told that if we just do things the way Jesus does them, we will become better and better, and continue on that path to perfection. Isn’t that right? WWJD – that’s what those cute little bracelets have on them – What Would Jesus Do? Well then, if I come up with the answers, shouldn’t I accumulate some sort of Christian brownie points? Don’t I become just a little more like Jesus, bit by bit by bit? According to this Hebrews guy (I’m sure it was a guy),  no matter how often I preach and pray and do all that other priestly stuff – I can never take away sins! Did they tell me that before I went into ministry?  OK, OK, I’m calmer now. I’ve settled down, taken a deep breath and read a little further into this passage, hoping that I won’t be slapped in the face again. I now read that only Christ made the great sacrifice for our collective sin, and that it is Christ who sits at the right hand of God. (12-13) Can’t argue that - so far, so good! Jesus has offered for us a new and living way to enter God’s sanctuary, and only he is the great priest. (20-21) I’m starting to get it, starting to understand anew what my role is and what our roles are. 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. (24-25) To provoke to good deeds – what a rich way to express that. I’m not too bad at provoking. Perhaps that’s it, then – I can provoke you, and in doing so love you towards doing good deeds, and in turn you can do the same for me? Oh yes, that just could be it. I feel better now about not being able to take away sins – do you also? Come to think of it – I may have needed a reality check.  - Pastor Piet - November 19, 2006  [ as always, you are invited to read the scripture passage cited! ]