What is Christ doing now? (An answer)

Well, thanks for answering (Chad Michael). You are certainly correct.

Here is the answer Frank Sheed gives in his essay that posed the question, "What is Christ doing now?":

Ask the first dozen Christians you meet--- "What is Christ doing now?" Unless one can answer that, one cannot understand the Mass. Over the years I have put the question to crowds in Hyde Park, London, and Times Square, New York. Those who don't care naturally have no answer. But even many who truly love our Lord cannot imagine anything He need do now--after all, He said on the Cross: "It is finished".

It is rare to have anyone quote, "He is living on to make intercession for us", still less the word which precede these-- "Jesus continues for ever and his priestly office is unchanging: that is why he can give eternal salvation to those who through him make their way to God" (Hebrews 7:24-25, Knox). "Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" (Hebrews 9:24, RSV).

So that is what he is doing now and always-- making intercession for us as priest. How? By "standing as a lamb slain" (Revelation 5:6,12). He appears before God with the marks of his wounding showing, glowing.

His redeeming sacrifice-- Death, Resurrection, Ascension-- was complete, but still has to be applied to each individual human being, and it is by this that he applies it.

That is Christ's work "on our behalf" in heaven. Because He wills it so, it breaks through to our altars. The priest in Christ's name, by Christ's power, offers the same Christ-- there on the altar in the appearance of bread and wine-- to the same Father for the same saving purpose. Christ is doing this at the altar, the priest is doing it with him. And we are doing it too.

(Frank Sheed, "Mass and the Eucharist" p. 105-106).