If anyone has sinned we have an advocate with the Father

On Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter to the Hebrews (2:5-18) entitled "Jesus, the author of salvation, has become like us in every way". Our treasure, which follows, is from the commentary on the psalms by Saint John Fisher, bishop and martyr. Saint John Fisher was an English Catholic bishop, Cardinal, and theologian. St. John Fisher was also an academic and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. His primary contribution to the teachings of the Church was courageously defending the authority of the Church and the primacy of the Pope in matters of faith and conscience, even at the cost of his life. Opposing the actions of Henry VIII, he refused to accept the king's claim over the Church in England, affirming that true unity and doctrine rest in fidelity to Christ and His Church. His martyrdom stands as a lasting witness that the truth of the faith must be upheld with integrity, no matter the personal cost. He is honored as a martyr by the Church after being executed by a single blow of the axe on June 22, 1535 Commentary on the Psalms by John Fisher teaches that the Psalms are a living school of prayer in which the soul learns to trust God in every circumstance. Fisher presents the Psalms as expressing the full range of human experience—sorrow, repentance, hope, and praise—while constantly directing the believer toward deeper faith in Jesus Christ. Their central message is that through prayer rooted in Scripture, the faithful are drawn into closer union with God, learning to rely on His mercy and remain steadfast through trials. As early as the second century, this treatise, which is of great rhetorical power and force in its admonition to faithful pilgrimage under Christ's leadership, bore the title "To the Hebrews." It was assumed to be directed to Jewish Christians. Usually, Hebrews was attached in Greek manuscripts to the collection of letters by Paul. Although no author is mentioned (for there is no address), a reference to Timothy suggested connections to the circle of Paul and his assistants. Yet the exact audience, the author, and even whether Hebrews is a letter have long been disputed. The central message of the Epistle to the Hebrews is that Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal High Priest who fulfills and surpasses the old covenant, offering Himself once for all for the salvation of humanity. The letter teaches that through Christ, believers have direct access to God, and it calls them to persevere in faith, especially in times of trial, trusting in His definitive sacrifice. By showing how Christ completes the meaning of the Law, priesthood, and sacrifices of the Old Testament, Hebrews urges Christians to remain steadfast, confident, and faithful to Him.