Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Ex 24:3-8
Heb 9:11-15
Mk 14:12-16, 22-26


Blood, lifeblood, it circulates through the body, giving life. Arteries take the life giving fluid from the heart through the body, veins bring the blood back to be renewed. Take the blood form the body and the body dies. Blood is essential to life. It is not surprising then that blood is used to seal covenants. The people of Israel gathered together to be sealed in their covenant by blood, the blood of bulls.
We gather together, brought to this place, this heart, to be renewed, renewed by the blood that is far greater than the blood of bulls, to be renewed by the body that is so much more than the ashes of heifers. We come together in this place to be made one in the body and blood that is greater than time, or place or bureaucracies or hierarchies. We come together to celebrate the covenant sealed in the blood of Christ, the blood that renews us, the blood that gives us life, the blood that is life, so that we may pour out into the arteries carrying that life to the world.
Deacon John
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
June 14, 2009

1 comment:

Brian Murphy said...

Dear Deacon John,

Thank you for this lovely reflection. I am candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in NJ. I just finished a three day retreat with my classmates - if you look at my blog, you will see some images I shot at the Jersey shore. The pic of the rising sun was to me, a miracle - as the sun became a Monstrance - it hovers over the sea - how appropriate for the Feast of Corpus Christi...

God bless you!