Hebrews 3:5-11, 17-19, especially vss. 5, 6: "And while Moses was faithful in His whole household as a servant, to bear witness to things that would be spoken of later, Christ was faithful as a Son in charge of God's household. And we are that household, if we firmly maintain the confidence and pride in what we hope for." [NBV] Each year, near the celebration of the Lord's Nativity, the Church begins a course of readings through Hebrews. The next three days we will reflect on three passages from the Epistle's early chapters.
The three we shall consider make excellent meditations for the Great Feast of the Incarnation. The birth of the Son of God has great import for the Church, which we know well as the Household of God (today's passage). Of course, Christ is God's ultimate Promise to His Household (Tuesday's passage). Therefore, the Apostle urges us to continue our journey in faith that we may receive God's blessing (Wednesday's passage).
The Church reads the Old Testament as the early, formative history of God's dealings with His People. Likewise, She understands the New Testament as defining the present and transformed state of God's relationship with His People - a changed relationship caused by Christ's coming. The Apostle illuminates this contrast very vividly in today's reading. On the one hand, St. Paul points out that in early times the Prophet Moses was a key figure in God's Household, a man whom the Lord charged with responsibility for all the Israel of God, for His entire Household. Without question, Moses carried out his assigned task most faithfully (vs. 5).
Then, the Apostle reminds us, we must understand that the great Prophet was only a servant of God, even if His most outstanding servant. On the other hand, when we address the present state of God's Household we meet our Lord Jesus Christ, not a servant in the Household, but "a Son in charge of His Own Household" (vs. 6). The leap in status within the Household between Moses and Christ is qualitative and immense. The Household belongs to the Lord Jesus, even though He ministered to the members as a servant (Mk. 10:45; Jn. 13:14).
In addition, St. Paul points out that Moses laid the ground work for Christ, bearing "witness to things that would be spoken of later" (Heb. 3:5). What are those things? What particularly should the present members of the Household of God observe from the Mosaic era? The Apostle quotes the Prophet David, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the day of rebellion" - as against Moses in the wilderness (vss. 7,8) The ancient People of God paid dearly for straying in their hearts (vs. 10). They died in the wilderness, and the entire generation failed to enter the Promised Land, "because of unbelief" (vs. 19).
Now we, brethren, also "are that Household" through the blessing of our Baptism into Christ (vs. 6). We are the Household of God, but only under the condition that we do not disobey God through unbelief, only "if we firmly maintain the confidence and pride in what we hope for" (vs. 6). Let us not fall in the wilderness of this life (vs. 17) pining and yearning for the comforts and provisions we had as slaves of the Egypt of this present world. Christ our Passover, our Pascha, has led us from death and slavery into life and freedom. He has made us sons with Him in the Household of God. His rest awaits all who steadfastly hold fast their confidence in Him. What the early members of the Household lost in a temporal way, let us not lose eternally.
Lo, with Judah and Levi we magnify Moses the great, and Aaron the wonderful; and with David we celebrate the memory of Joshua and Samuel, inviting all with divine songs and divine praise to the preparation of the Nativity of Christ, praying to receive His goodness; for He it is that granteth the world the Great Mercy. Glory to Thee, O our God and our Hope!