St. Paul refers us to the "throne of grace" into days second reading. In order to understand what he is talking about we have to go back to the old testament, to the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark of the Covenant was that portable sanctuary that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the jar of Manna, the staff of Aaron. The Israelites would carry it around wiht them in their desert journey. Whenever they stopped, they would pitch a tent and place the Ark in the tent.
They believed that when God would fill the tent with his glory, he would reside or dwell on the Ark, on a gold plate, or seat that was known as the "mercy seat."
The mercy seat was the place of contact. It was considered to be the place of God's personal presence, where he would come to be with his people.
when the Israelites carried out the sacrifices according to Moses, then expiation for sin and reconciliation with God would come from the Mercy Seat.
This Seat was the place of Atonement. Atonement simply means "at one with." Here God was at one with the people because they were at one with him. This was the center of the Israelites livelihood where they would get direction, guidance, strength.
Here they would seek what to do next.
St. Paul tells that the Mercy Seat reality is most perfectly realize din Jesus himself. In Jesus, in his suffering and sacrifice and obedience, in the shedding of his blood, expiation for sin and reconciliation with God is a reality once for all.
Atonement is realized in Jesus. We are at one with God through Jesus himself.
St. Paul tells us we have cause to be bold and confident to "approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace for timely help."
This reality of boldness is most perfectly seen in the gospel.
When Jesus was being crucified, there were two criminal crucified with him, one on the left and one on the right.
One of them ridiculed JEsus but the other understood his situation; he knew what kind predicament he was in; if there was ever a need for grace in timely help it was then.
With boldness and confidence the good thief approaches Jesus, "remember me when you come into your kingdom."
And the words of Jesus even today give us the confidence we need to approach often, "this day you will be with me in paradise."
This response shatters our timidity, our shyness, our fear; this response gives us courage to be bold. If the thief can seek how much more should we who believe.
When the lance opened the side of Christ and blood came forth, grace floods the world: our guilt is washed away, satisfaction is made, our infirmity is removed, our punishment has ceased, our weakness is made strong, the exiles are called back to the kingdom, and the gates of paradise are opened wide and there grace for timely help is forever at our fingertips and all we have to do is approach and ask.
This grace for timely help is most perfectly realized in the sacraments. The sacraments are an extension of the power of Christ passion. every time we go to confession, receive the the eucharist worthily we hear the words of Christ, "this day you will be with me in paradise."
We are empowered to do because of what Christ did.
timely help indeed.
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