With Opened Bible
King-Priest
“In those days, Melchizedek, King of Salem, brought out bread and wine.” (Genesis 14:18)
On the Solemnity of Corpus Christ, the first reading introduces us to a fiigure of profound mystery in Sacred Scripture: Melchizedek. Who was this enigmatc character? What secrets does his story hold about the role of Jesus?
This enigmatic figure emerges in the Book of Genesis following Abraham's triumph over the five kings. (Genesis 14:14- 20) Upon his return from battle, Melchizedek, whose name signifies King of Righteousness, presents bread and wine as a thanksgiving offering to the Lord. What sets him apart is his dual role as King and High Priest, a combination that defies Jewish tradition where kingship and priesthood were distinct. He also reigns over Salem, the city of peace.
This King-Priest is shrouded in mystery, having no recorded lineage. (Hebrews 7:3). He possesses divine attributes akin to Christ, the Word existing before the world. (John 1:1-2) Strangely enough, this King-Priest is the first priest since the creation of the world. And to top it all off, he offers not the traditional sacrifices of sheep and rams but bread and wine. (It sounds like Christ's last supper.) And to top it all off, he is the High Priest of Elyon, also called the Most High.
By placing Jesus alongside this figure, this is what we get. Jesus is the King chosen by God: "He will sit on the throne of David his Father." (Luke 1:32), but he is also the High Priest who offers himself once and for all for the salvation of the world. (Hebrews 9:12) Son of God, begotten from eternity, he is the Alpha and Omega (without origin or end) (Revelation 22:13) who offers himself under the species of bread and wine. (Mathew 26:26-27) He is the High Priest we need for our redemption. (Hebrews 7:26-27) Finally, Jesus is also called Prince of Peace by the prophet Isaiah 9:4-5. This extraordinary High Priest offers himself to us. Through his body and his blood, he nourishes us and builds his Church.
