The Mercy Seat

[BarbaraTherese]

All quotations taken from:
universalis.com/20080303/readings.htm

Reading - **Leviticus 16:2 - 28 **©

Christ the High Priest makes atonement for our sins

‘Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter the sanctuary beyond the veil, in front of the throne of mercy that is over the ark, whenever he chooses. He may die;

for I appear in a cloud on the throne of mercy.

This is one of the most beautiful terms in the Old Testament …God sits on the Throne of Mercy - the Mercy Seat. How can I appear before this Mercy Seat and The Throne of God if I have not been tried to be a person of Mercy? There are some beautiful passages in the Old Testament the speak of God’s Eternal Constant Faithful Love and His Constant, Faithfully Constant, Mercy. Very sadly many find in the OT only a Judgemental God.
The above quotation is from the First Reading in the Office of Readings for Monday 3rd. March. Links to these (scroll down to “The Divine Office”) are posted daily into the “Daily Prayer and Liturgy” thread in this Spirituality Forum. Each new month has a new thread - updated daily.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=221598

Here is the Second Reading which addresses Mercy and Atonement…

Reading - From a homily on Leviticus by Origen, priest
**Christ the High Priest **
makes atonement for our sins

Once a year the high priest, leaving the people outside, entered that place where no one except the high priest might enter.

In it was the mercy-seat, and above the mercy-seat the cherubim, as well as the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense.

Let me turn to my true high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. In our human nature he spent the whole year in the company of the people, the year that he spoke of when he said: He sent me to bring good news to the poor, to announce the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of forgiveness. Notice how once in that year, on the day of atonement, he enters into the holy of holies. ***Having fulfilled God’s plan, he passes through the heavens and enters into the presence of the Father to make ***him turn in mercy to the human race and to pray for all who believe in him.

John the apostle, knowing of the atonement that Christ makes to the Father for all men, says this: *

Little children, I say these things so that you may not sin. But if we have sinned we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the just one. He is the atonement for our sins in his blood, through faith

We have then a day of atonement that remains until the world comes to an end.

.

God’s word tells us: The high priest shall put incense on the fire in the sight of the Lord. The smoke of the incense shall cover the mercy-seat above the tokens of the covenant, so that he may not die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull-calf and sprinkle it with his finger over the mercy-seat toward the east.

God taught the people of the old covenant how to celebrate the ritual offered to him in atonement for the sins of men.*** But you have come to Christ, the true high priest.*** Through his blood he has made God turn to you in mercy and has reconciled you with the Father. You must not think simply of ordinary blood but you must learn to recognise instead the blood of the Word. Listen to him as he tells you: *

This is my blood, which will be shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

There is a deeper meaning in the fact that the high priest sprinkles the blood toward the east.

Atonement comes to you from the east. From the east comes the one whose name is Dayspring, he who is mediator between God and men.

You are invited then to look always to the east: it is there that the sun of righteousness rises for you, it is there that the light is always being born for you. You are never to walk in darkness; the great and final day is not to enfold you in darkness. Do not let the night and mist of ignorance steal upon you. So that you may always enjoy the light of knowledge,

keep always in the daylight of faith, hold fast always to the light of love and peace.

 

[Belle10]

This is one of the most beautiful terms in the Old Testament …God sits on the Throne of Mercy - the Mercy Seat. How can I appear before this Mercy Seat and The Throne of God if I have not been tried to be a person of Mercy? There are some beautiful passages in the Old Testament the speak of God’s Eternal Constant Faithful Love and His Constant, Faithfully Constant, Mercy. Very sadly many find in the OT only a Judgemental God.

The Mercy Seat - I love it! I’ve never really heard it spoken of that way, but it’s beautiful to picture. Thank you for your post – it goes hand-in-hand with the message of Divine Mercy that Jesus gave to St. Faustina, which is my favorite devotion. God bless you. :hug1:

 

[BarbaraTherese]

The Mercy Seat - I love it! I’ve never really heard it spoken of that way, but it’s beautiful to picture. Thank you for your post – it goes hand-in-hand with the message of Divine Mercy that Jesus gave to St. Faustina, which is my favorite devotion. God bless you. :hug1:

Thank you for this important (name removed by moderator)ut connecting the Old Testament reading from Leviticus to the Revelations to St. Faustina and her message and devotion of Divine Mercy:thumbsup: . It does point to just how Scriptural the revelations, message and devotion of St. Faustina are…The Lord reigns on a Throne of Mercy…Blessings this Lent…Barb