Confused by wording in Liturgy

[upbeatjonm]

At one point during the Mass, the priest says that “He pleads for us at the right hand of the father”, obviously referring to Jesus. Being one God in three person, can they have disputes? How can Jesus plead to God? I understand it more when Jesus prays to God while he was on Earth, but now he is in Heaven at the right hand of God. Don’t they have one mind?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[Tantum_ergo]

The Trinity is a Mystery.
Three Divine Persons in ONE God.
Three Distinct Persons–Father, Son, and Spirit. Father and Creator. Son–BEGOTTEN, not conceived, God from God, light from light. Son who became incarnate of the Virgin and thus in the hypostatic union is both true God and true man. Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son and was sent to guide us.

The Father, Son, and Spirit are One–and Three. Like I said, a mystery. And, BTW, they don’t “dispute”. Jesus’s passion and death on the cross for us. . .His glorious wounds. . .are a “plea” for sinful mankind that needs no words. . .He died for us and our sins, and rose that we might have life. . .

 

[upbeatjonm]

Thanks for clarifying. I probably heard that saying in Mass thousands of times, but only today did the question arise in my mind.

Jon

 

[tjmiller]

The reference in the Liturgy comes from, inter alia, the Epistle to the Hebrews - cf. 7:24ff., 10:12. The context of the letter shows how the priesthood of Christ is superior to the priesthood of the Old Covenant: Christ’s priesthood is more excellent because it lasts forever, and continues even now in Heaven, where as the God-Man He intercedes for us in the presence of the Father.

By intercession is not necessarily implied the reconciliation of disputing parties, but also the presentation of our petitions, etc. This priestly intercession is predicated of Christ according to His Humanity. Many such passages of Scripture are intelligible only when predicated of one or the other of Christ’s hypostatically united natures.