Hebrews 5:1-10 (NRSV)

Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent - Reflections on the Letters of Lent

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you" as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Appointed...  You are appointed! Selected to do something that you probably otherwise wouldn't do. You have been given a task to complete, a vocation, a duty that you cannot turn down. I have always liked the old Mission Impossible episodes: "Your mission Jim, should you choose to accept it, ... As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds." (I used to watch the series with my dad) Now, maybe you think my head is far off of this scripture but hang on, I'll get there. 

I love the Parker Palmer quote, "Vocation is something that you can't not do." I believe the talented educator used the double negative on purpose. He used it to show us that one cannot turn down a vocation (our true mission) as impossible as it seems. It's something within us that we must do. It is of a higher calling, a higher purpose... more than just a job, it is your reason for being in this world.

Now, that's a bit deep for some folks to go, but I believe that is what the writer to the Hebrews was trying to get across. The writer was trying to give the people a sense of their calling a purpose as believers in Jesus. He was trying to get them to understand their place in the world and the vocation that they have been given to do. They have a higher calling to connect people to God through their faith in Jesus. That's what some of them were appointed by God to do. 

The call to action that I hear today is, once you've discerned with prayer and struggle, "do what you have been appointed to do." Do it with urgency, sincerity, and faith. Do it, not to glorify yourself, but to bring glory to God in the restoration of the world. Do it, and God will make the mission possible.