Christ, as we know him from the New Testament, is the priest and the victim. Prior to this, the priests of the Old Covenant sacrificed animals: lambs, bulls, goats, turtle doves, etc. But in the priesthood of Jesus, the priesthood of the New Covenant, the priest offers himself as the victim.
Regarding Jesus and His priesthood, Scripture says, "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb 10:4-10).
This insight is essential for all of us, Christians, whether as ordained ministers or as those who share in the royal priesthood of Christ given to all at baptism. Although the baptismal and ministerial priesthoods are different, they have in common the fact that every priest offers sacrifice.
But what does this mean on a daily basis? We follow Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim, by imitating him in his love for the Father and his compassion for others. We imitate his lifestyle by developing a loving relationship with God and choosing to be men of mercy and compassion. This is how we contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God.