Catholic Activity: Jesse Tree, Day 6 — Melchizedek (Melchisedek)
Symbols: Bread and Wine
The LORD has sworn and will not waver: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)
Melchizedek was a king of Salem (sometimes considered Jerusalem) and a priest, but without genealogy. When Abraham returned from battle after rescuing Lot, Melchizedek greeted him and gave him a blessing in honor of his victory (Genesis 14:18-20). In return Abraham offered him 1/10 of everything, the first tithes, because of his priesthood.
In the New Testament the Epistle to the Hebrews associates Christ's priesthood with Melchizedek's by quoting in three successive chapters the invocation from Psalm 110: "You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek and forever." This is also the biblical basis for the Catholic doctrine that, once a man is ordained a priest, his priesthood, like Christ's "in the line of Melchizedek," is forever (Hebrews 5, 6, 7). (Adapted from The Catholic Dictionary by Father John Hardon.)
DIRECTIONS
Recommended Scripture Readings:
- Genesis 14:17-20
- Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 5:5-6
- Hebrews 7:1-28
Selections from The Catechism of the Catholic Church:
- CCC 58 The Covenant with Noah
- CCC 1333 Melchizedek's Prefiguring Gesture
- CCC 1544-1545 The one priesthood of Christ
Jesse Tree Overview
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Printable PDF Jesse Tree guide: The Jesse Tree: Advent 2023
Activity Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2023 by Jennifer Gregory Miller
