The Nearness of God to the Priest

The Lord Jesus tells his disciples that the harvest is full, but the workers are few.  St. Ambrose understood these workers as teachers.  In the work of the Church, the pre-eminent teachers are the pope, the bishops, and the priests.  The following excerpt, which begins with a comparison of the ancient sacrifices with the new and eternal Sacrifice, is taken from a short book written for the instruction of priests by the French monk Alger of Liége (d. 1131): 

“The gift of Abel was very acceptable, but not as this.  The sacrifice of the patriarch Abraham was very pleasing, but not to this degree.  The offering of Melchizedek was very much approved, but much less than this one.  In the end, what did the Prophet say? ‘Sacrifice and oblation, you would not; holocausts for sin you did not demand.  Then I said: Behold, I come’ (Psalm 39, 7-8).  The Prophet spoke of Him who did not enter the holy of holies with the blood of goats or cattle, but he entered once with his own Blood, obtaining eternal redemption (cf. Hebrews 9, 12).  All that was done in ancient times was but a figure.  Then was a figure, now is the truth.  Then was a shadow, now is the light.  Then there were clouds, now there is clarity.  Then was the lamb prescribed by law, now is the innocent Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.  O priest, it is the true Son of God whom you immolate, whom you touch with your hands, whom you eat with your mouth, whom you take into your body.  But it is not merely his majesty that comes to you: the Son indeed does come to you, but not without the Father, for he said: ‘The One who sent me is with me, and he does not leave me alone’ (John 8, 29).  The Son comes to you, but not without the Holy Spirit: ‘The one upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, he is the One’ – Christ (John 1, 33).”