Sunday Scripture - Reflection for June 2, 2024

Sunday Scripture - Reflection for June 2, 2024

Photo by Arnold Knoche

​The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Exodus 24:3-8
Hebrews 9:11-15
 
On this solemn feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the first two readings are about blood. The Hebrew people saw blood as the life force of a person or animal. They would sacrifice animals and offer the blood, the life, of the animal back to the creator.  In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, following the LORD’S ordinances, Moses took half the blood and splashed it on the altar. The other half was splashed on the people to signify the covenant the LORD made with his people.

The people must have known the LORD was not like the other gods. These gods would have wanted all the sacrifice to themselves, but the LORD used their gift of blood and turned it into something to show the LORD’S love for the people and to help sanctify them. I bet the people thought it couldn’t get any better than that, but the LORD was preparing them for something much greater.

The letter to the Hebrews tells us that the LORD himself became one of his people and with his own blood, through the Holy Spirit, became the offering and obtained eternal redemption for his people. We remember this (anamnesis) at every Mass, when Jesus tells us to take this chalice, the blood of the new covenant and drink.

As Catholics today, we are fortunate to be able to receive the fullness of the sign of the Eucharist. We can take and eat and take and drink.
​
Lynda Knoche
Women at the Well Community
Sugar Land, TX

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