Monday in Holy Week: Reading from the Breviary

From the Letter to the Hebrews10:19-39
Perseverance in faith. Awaiting God’s judgment

Brothers and sisters, since the blood of Jesus assures our entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living path he has opened up for us through the veil (the “veil” meaning his flesh), and since we have a great priest who is over the house of God, let us draw near in utter sincerity and absolute confidence, our hearts sprinkled clean from the evil which lay on our conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to our profession which gives us hope, for he who made the promise deserves our trust. We must consider how to rouse each other to love and good deeds. We should not absent ourselves from the assembly, as some do, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see that the Day draws near.

If we sin willfully after receiving the truth, there remains for us no further sacrifice for sin – only a fearful expectation of judgment and a flaming fire to consume the adversaries of God. Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not suppose that a much worse punishment is due the man who disdains the Son of God, thinks the covenant-blood by which he was sanctified to be ordinary, and insults the Spirit of grace? We know who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” and“The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Recall the days gone by when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to insult and trial; at other times you associated yourselves with those who were being so dealt with. You even joined in the sufferings of those who were in prison and joyfully assented to the confiscation of your goods, knowing that you had better and more permanent possessions. Do not, then, surrender your confidence; it will have great reward. You need patience to do God’s will and receive what he has promised.

For just a brief moment,
and he who is to come will come; he will not delay.
My just man will live by faith,
and if he draws back
I take no pleasure in him.

We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and live.