Third Sunday of Lent – Adoration of the Holy Cross

The Epistle for the Third Sunday of Lent is Hebrews 4:14-5:6 (WEB):

Hebrews 4:

¹⁴Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession. ¹⁵For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.

Hebrews 5:

¹For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ²The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. ³Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself. ⁴Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was. ⁵So also Christ didn't glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him,

"You are my Son.

Today I have become your father."*

⁶As he says also in another place,

"You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek."*

Hebrews 5:5:

The quote is from Psalm 2:7:

⁷I will tell of the decree. 

Yahweh said to me, "You are my son. 

Today I have become your father.

Hebrews 5:6:

The quote is from Psalm 109(110):4:

Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind: 

"You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

Genesis 14:18-20:

¹⁸Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: ²⁰and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

Abram gave him a tenth of all.