When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come ... he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Twice a year when the Church, like Mary, ponders the mysteries of the Christian faith in her heart, she turns to the same scripture for texts on which to meditate - the Epistle to the Hebrews.

The first occasion is on Christmas Day at the Later Service. At the midnight service we are "surprised by Joy" as we hear the song of the angels and say with the shepherds, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass." The Christmas event is followed on Christmas Day by the meaning of this fact which the church ponders. The author of Hebrews guides the faithfu…