A Royal Priesthood (5th Sunday of Easter)

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In this epistle reading, St. Peter teaches that Christians, who have been redeemed by blood of Jesus, are being built into a living temple, with Christ as the foundation. Although the builders (ethnic Israel) have rejected Him, this has not stopped Him from becoming the chief cornerstone of God’s new temple, the “Heavenly Jerusalem” (cf. Hebrews 12:22).

Further, the language Peter uses in verse 10 to describe believers comes from Exodus 19:5-6, which says the following of the people of Israel: “If you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” By taking this description of Israel and applying it to New Covenant believers, Peter is identifying the Church as the new Israel, which has inherited God’s covenant blessings through Christ. As Christians, we participate in Christ’s three-fold offices of prophet, priest and king.

Notice the particular emphasis on the believer as priest. Catholic teaching has always affirmed that all who are baptized in Christ partake in a universal priesthood (but not to the exclusion of a ministerial priesthood). As the Catechism puts it:

The baptized have become “living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers. (CCC 1268)

As Christians, all that is Christ’s is ours as well. We who are in Him should never cease to glory in the awesome privilege of being made into a royal priesthood and holy nation.

J. Luis Dizon