Homily on the Solemnity of the Precious Blood of Jesus, July 1st, 2015
Ex 24,3-8; Eph 2, 13-20; Lk 22, 14-20
Let us give thanks to the Lord for gathering us on the Solemnity of the Precious Blood of Jesus, a day truly propitious for celebrating the Jubilee of the religious families and lay movements of the Precious Blood. It is also an occasion to give thanks to God for the charisms and missions of your respective communities that converge in the New Covenant by the Blood of Jesus.
Today’s Scripture readings are linked to the theme of the covenant. Covenant is a word often used in religious, social and political circles to indicate agreements between parties. Unfortunately, divisions in the world, reaching destructive, dehumanizing and violent proportions, indicate that covenant is not properly understood or taken seriously. We are witnessing a worldwide crisis in accepting and living covenants. As disciples of Christ we must respond, decide and act. The solemnity we celebrate today invites us, as Christians, to be missionaries of the true covenant that was sealed with the blood of Jesus. Allow me to share two points for our reflection.
On the first point, the first reading from Exodus reminds us that the covenant between God and Israel is essentially a personal relationship composed of levels that are distinct but related. God speaks his word; the people listen. God is faithful to his word; the people promise to put God’s word into practice. Fidelity to the word given is an important aspect of the covenant. Moses later confirms the covenant of fidelity to the word with the blood of a bull poured in two equal parts, one half on the altar that symbolizes God, and the other half is sprinkled on the people. Why in the Old Testament is the blood of animals used to establish a covenant? Because “the life of a creature is in the blood”, according to the book of Leviticus. Blood means life. A covenant, therefore, is not only a verbal agreement, but a union of life. “I will make you my people and I will be your God,” God said to Israel in Exodus 6:7. Which is another way of saying: “We belong to each other. We share a common destiny.
Israel’s history teaches us that God is faithful to his Word and to his communion with Israel. But Israel is not consistent in its covenant relationship with God. Israel does not listen to God, does not put his Word into practice and even worships other gods. We ask ourselves: “Israel offers the blood, symbol of life, in the rituals of the covenant. Why, then, does it continue to be unfaithful?”. Let us remember that Israel offers the blood of bulls, calves and sheep. It does not offer its own blood. This explains why the new covenant is only possible with the blood of Jesus. In the first place, Jesus is the Son of God. Divine life flows through his human blood. At the Last Supper narrated in the Gospel, the body and blood of Jesus is, for us, God’s offer of life. God is always present to us through Jesus. At the same time, Jesus as a human being is our brother, he offers his blood, his life to the Father in perfect obedience. In Jesus we find God’s perfect fidelity to us and man’s perfect fidelity to God. In the blood of Jesus, a new and perfect covenant is fulfilled. In the blood of Jesus, God assures us that he will never abandon us. In the blood of Jesus, the human being swears full fidelity to God in the name of humanity and creation. Jesus said it clearly: I lay down my life for the sheep… No one takes it [life] from me, but I lay it down for myself… this is the command I received from my Father” (Jn 10:15-18). The blood or life of Jesus is freely offered by the Father and for us in a new and perfect covenant.
Thus, brothers and sisters, Jesus offers his life to God and to us: a life for you, for others. And us? To what or to whom do we offer our life? To the gold and silver that cannot save us? To our cell phones? To the ambition that leaves us empty? To the greed that treats human beings as merchandise? To the weapons of war that kill human lives and God’s creation? With whom do we make alliance? Our solemnity questions the false alliances and covenants that destroy life. Jesus offered his blood so that others might live. Jesus did not shed the blood of others to preserve their lives.
The last point refers us to St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Another important aspect of the new covenant in the blood of Jesus is the birth of a new reconciled community. Those who were once separate are now united by him and are close, even one. In the person of Jesus, disciples from different nations and cultures are no longer strangers but fellow citizens and members of the same family. The new covenant in Jesus creates a new way of looking at others, at people who are different from us. If God loves them and Jesus brings them to God, then I must see in them a brother and sister who share the life of Jesus that runs through my veins. The value of each member of the Christian community derives from the blood that Jesus shed for each of us. St. Paul reminds the priests of Ephesus to guard and care for the Church of God that Jesus purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28). Since Jesus offered his blood for all, breaking the power of sin that threatens all humanity, no person should be seen and treated as a stranger or a threat, or a scapegoat, but as a neighbor, a brother and a sister. Jesus died for each one of us. Each one of us is precious. Each one of us deserves our love.
In today’s world there are many people, still young, who are lonely and desperate because they do not feel they belong to anyone or any community. Some commit suicide. Many poor and despised people are made to feel worthless. There is enough money for weapons, but not for food, housing, medicine and education. Discrimination, inequality and manipulation of human beings are against the covenant in the blood of Jesus. The use of social networks and artificial intelligence to destroy people’s names is contrary to the covenant in the blood of Jesus. Let us ask: Are our communities, parishes, schools, hospitals places of fraternal hospitality and compassion? Our solemnity challenges attitudes and behaviors that exalt some people while humiliate others.
May the people who seek hope find in the Precious Blood of Jesus the anchor of an authentic and lasting covenant with God and humanity.