St. Norbert's Church - Sunday Reflections

Lots of people today have never been in contact with blood, with the slaughtering of animals and generally not at all with blood being thrown on them. Nevertheless, we still recognize that a person without blood must be a dead person. We recognize that blood is essential for life. Lots of us know that sometimes a gift of blood to another person saves that person's life. It may not be too difficult for us to understand that we can give our life, our body and our blood, for another person.

Today's readings are filled with the imagery of body and blood sacrificed so that others can be bound together with life and to God. If a group of modern people make a commitment together, there may be other symbols, such as a uniform, a similar way of doing things or with various hand symbols. Gangs have rituals and so do organized groups.

The reading from Exodus which is our first reading today is about establishing a covenant between a group of people and God. This covenant was a promise that they would all follow the words and ordinances given by God to Moses. The covenant together was ratified by sprinkling the blood of young, sacrificed bulls on the people.

The Letter to the Hebrews then speaks about the blood of Christ and how much more powerful it is than the blood of sacrificed animals. If a person has ever been in danger and someone else has sacrificed his or her own life for them, that person easily understands the strength of giving one's life for another. Married spouses should be able to sacrifice their lives for one another or for their children. There are wonderful examples of this in time of war, even in the worst of wars. There are also examples such as Maximilian Kolbe and many others who were willing to give their lives so that another person might live.

Jesus is God. He claims this for Himself in every Gospel in the way He speaks, the way He uses Scriptures, His miracles and His way of living. God took on body and blood in Christ Jesus and became fully human while remaining fully Divine. This Man-God Jesus then freely choose to give His life for us, for you and for me. It is a gift beyond anything that we could have dreamed up on our own. Jesus chooses to continue to give this gift to us in the Eucharist.

It is such an incredible gift to us, that every time we are able to participate in the Eucharist, we are able to receive in such a special way this gift of the Body and Blood of Christ, given for us.

Today we celebrate this gift. The solemnity is a re-echoing of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. May our hearts be ever more open to this gift and respond to such Divine Love and Mercy with joy and generosity.