Please read the passage before reading the commentary.
In times past, we received the news from the town crier. Then we found the horse and people like Paul Revere would run through the countryside calling out that the British were coming. Then they invented the radio, and we could receive messages from far away in the quiet of our homes. Next came television and could see and hear things from a distance. Then came the Internet. What wonders will come for the next generation?
So much for human communication, but what of divine communication? In times past, God spoke to us through the prophets, and this was great. But then God did one best; in the last days, in our generation, he has spoken to us through his Son. Oh! the awe of God’s generous gift of his only-begotten Son!
Who is this Son? He is the heir of all things, the one through whom God created the universe. He is the imprint of God’s being, the one who sustains all things, the one who now sits at the right hand of God’s majesty. He is far superior even to angels.
To him, and not to angels, God said, “You are my Son”. To the angels God said, “Worship him.”
Once God spoke to us through prophets, and let angels escort and protect us. Now, however, God has sent his Son in the likeness of our flesh to speak with us and live with us.
The author of this letter to the Hebrews had a great appreciation for the work of God through prophets and angels. He could marvel at God’s great work through prophets and angels. He marveled even more when he realized that God had sent his Son, and heir, to us.
We should read the works of the prophets and learn what they have taught. Then we should continue reading the words of God’s own Son.
We shall be reading from the letter to the Hebrews for most of the weekdays of January. We do not know the author’s name, but the Church has accepted this letter as authentic Scripture.