Moses called everyone to the tent of meeting, and then declared to them: “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done” (Leviticus 8:5). That is, it was by God’s initiative that all the specific details were set in place regarding the ordination of Aaron and his sons to serve as priests to the Lord.

The process included ritual washing and ritual garments (8:6-9). These were followed by sacrifices for sin and for dedication, with oil and blood and a seven day service (8:14, 18, 22, 30; 9:1). At the conclusion of this service came the shining presence of the Lord, radiant in glory, and the people’s astonished response (9:23-24).

There is this fascinating detail about how Aaron and his sons got anointed with blood in three places. Moses took the blood from the ram of ordination that had been sacrificed, and put some on the right ear lobe, the right thumb, and the right big toe of Aaron, and then did the same for his sons (8:23-24). These three places clearly enough symbolize the hearing, the work, and the walk of Aaron and his descendants. In their life as priests, they could not presume to hear God, or to work for God, or to walk with God, unless they were covered by the blood.

That seems rather odd to us today, of course. We want to think that we can do just fine at these tasks, and really at any task, just on our own. Yet even though Aaron and his sons were already so vividly called and claimed by God, they still received this vivid tangible reminder that it was God’s initiative that saved them. We would do well to remember the same thing.

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You are the one who calls us, O Lord: you are the one who forgives us by your mercy, and transforms us by your grace. We trust in you. Cleanse us: move us: enable us to serve you in purity of heart, this day and always.