Approach God with confidence 

It is through the body and blood of Christ that we have access to God. The Letter to the Hebrews states: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh” (Heb 10:19-20).

Mary Healy, author of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture on the Letter to the Hebrews, explained: “As God was present but hidden behind the veil of the tabernacle, so in Christ God is present but veiled by his human nature. But in Jesus’ death on the cross – paradoxically, at the moment of greatest hiddenness – God’s innermost mystery is finally and fully revealed.”

We should approach the Holy Trinity through Christ in faith, hope, and charity. Hebrews 10:22 summons us to faith: “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Repentance and faith are inseparable. 

During the rite of baptism, the baptismal promises demonstrate repentance in the renunciation of Satan, and all his prompts and empty promises. Faith in the Holy Trinity is also professed during the baptismal promises. People in the modern world who lose the sense of sin also lose the sense of God.

In his Catechetical Lectures St. Cyril of Jerusalem wrote, “Since man is of a twofold nature, composed of body and soul, the purification is twofold: the corporeal for the corporeal and the incorporeal for the incorporeal. The water cleanses the body, and the Spirit seals the soul. Thus, having our heart sprinkled by the Spirit and our body washed with pure water, we may draw near to God. When you go down into the water, then, regard not simply the water, but look for salvation through the power of the Holy Spirit. For without both you cannot attain to perfection. It is not I who say this, but the Lord Jesus Christ, who has the power in this matter.” 

Healy observed: “In the old covenant, priests were washed with water and sprinkled with blood as part of the ordination rite (Ex 29:4, 21). By saying here that believers are washed and sprinkled, Hebrews is again implying that Christ’s sacrifice has qualified the whole people of God to be a holy priesthood, to offer sacrifices pleasing to him (Heb 13:15–16; 1 Pet 2:5)”

Hebrews 10:23 summons us to hope: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Healy wrote: “Whereas faith looks to present unseen realities, hope looks forward to future realities, the full enjoyment of all the blessings promised by God.” The hostility, indifference, and busyness of modern society can put our hope to the test. Our hope is not in ourselves but in God, who is faithful to his promises.

Hebrews 10:24-25 summons us to charity: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We should will and do good for others. We should also stir up others, by word and example, to do good works themselves.

A writer in the early Church urged the faithful observance of the Lord’s Day: “Now that you are members of Christ, do not choose to cut yourselves off from the Church by failing to attend the assembly; having Christ your head present and in touch with you, as he promised, do not underestimate yourselves or choose to separate the Saviour from his members, or divide or scatter his body, or give your everyday needs more importance than the Word of God; rather, on the Lord’s Day leave everything aside and come to the Church” (Didache).   

The Angel of Fatima taught this beautiful prayer: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You!”

以信心接近天主

藉著基督的聖體聖血我們可以接近天主。希伯來書：『所以，弟兄們！我們既然懷著大膽的信心，靠著耶穌的寶血得以進入聖 殿， 即進入由衪給我們開創的一條又新又活，通過帳幔，即衪肉身的道路』 （希伯來10：19—20）

Mary Healy 解釋道：『因為天主存在，卻隱藏在帳棚的罩布下，所以在基督內天主是罩蓋於祂人性之下。但耶穌死在十字架上—自相矛頭，是在最大的隱蔽中—天主最內在的奧秘，最終得以顯現。』

我們應該在信，望，愛中，藉著基督去接近聖三。希伯來10：22召喚我們去信：『我們就應在洗淨心靈，脫離邪僻的良心，和用淨水洗滌身體以後，懷著真誠的心，以完備的信德去接近天主。』悔改和信德是不能分割的。在聖洗禮儀中，受洗者承諾，表示棄絕魔鬼和牠的作為和空虛的承諾。在領洗中受洗者也宣認相信聖三。現世的人失去了罪惡的感覺，也失去了天主的感覺。

耶路撒冷的聖濟利祿寫道：『因為人有雙重的本性，靈魂和肉體，淨化也是雙重：肉身上有肉身上的淨化, 靈魂上有靈魂上的淨化。水清洗肉身，聖神印於靈魂。因此，被聖神灑在我們內心，讓淨水洗淨我們肉身，我們便可靠近天主。當你走進水裡，不要只以它為水，但藉著天主聖神的力量去尋找救恩。因為缺少任何一樣，你都不能達臻完美。這不是我說的，是我主耶穌基督，祂在這事情上，具有力量。』

Mary Healy觀察到：『在舊約，在受品典禮（出29：4，21），部份的禮儀中，司祭是被水洗和灑以血。希伯來再次暗示，基督的犧牲使天主全部的子民堪當作神聖的司祭，奉獻犧牲去取悅天主（希伯來13:15-16; 1伯2：5）』

希伯來10：23呼喚我們去希望：『也應該堅持所明認的望德，毫不動搖。因為應許的那位是忠信的。』Mary Healy寫道：『信德望著現在看不見的事實，望德期待未來的事實—-完滿享受天主承諾的一切祝福。』現代社會的敵意、分歧、和忙碌都把我們的希望置於考驗中。我們的希望不是在我們中而是在天主中，祂忠信於祂的諾言。

希伯來10：24-25呼喚仁愛：『也應該彼此關懷，激發愛德，勉勵行善， 決不離棄我們的集會，就像一些人所習慣行的；反而應彼此勸勉；你們見那日子越近，就越該如此。』我們應該願意他人好並為他人好而工作。我們也應該言傳身教，帶動別人自己行善。

一位早期教會的作者催促信徒門守好主日：『現在你是基督的成員，不要缺席教會的聚會，選擇把自己跟教會分割；基督既為你的頭，存在並與你接觸，一如祂承諾，不要低估你自己並選擇與救世主與祂的成員分離，或劃分或糊亂放置，或把你每天所需比天主聖言視作更為重要；反而在主日裡，放下一切並來到教會』

花地瑪的天使教授這美麗的禱文：『吾天主，我信爾，拜爾，望爾，並愛爾。求爾赦宥一切不信爾，不拜爾，不望爾，並不愛爾者！』