Dear Friends,
Last week a story on the national news told of pregnant women with a life-endangering illness being saved by the infusion of whole blood. So much can be done when the component parts of blood are shared. But this crisis required whole blood.
I thought of “whole blood” when I started preparing for this week’s blog. When tragedy strikes, people give blood, which they associate with the gift of life.
Blood sustains the flow of life.
The Blood of Christ sustains the flow of life in the church and in the world.
A few weeks ago, a nurse practitioner from my insurance carrier came to do a home visit. After a series of routine tests, she wondered if I would allow her to take a test which measured whether there were differences in the blood flow in each of my arms and legs. I was curious, to say the least. Much to my delight, the graphs were identical for each appendage. The blood flowed consistently throughout my body.
Does the Blood of Christ flow consistently throughout the Church and the world? No. We know it doesn’t, because in some instances Christ is ignored, unwanted, misunderstood, rejected when understood. The whole Church and the whole world are inconsistent hosts for Christ who gives us His blood to sustain us and His Body to nourish us.
How do we come to value and cooperate with the truth of Christ’s Body and Blood as lifegiving for us? Certainly, and as often as possible, by coming to the Table of the Lord. But there’s more. As we plunge into our lives, day after day, we can work politically, economically, and socially to stanch the loss of lifeblood in the many clear and hidden ways that happen. We can work locally, nationally, and globally to enhance the flow of blood to all those people and places where the need is greatest. In this way, we become Christ for others. We bring Christ to others.
The Body and Blood of Christ are always given together and received together. Wherever people move in the world, Christ is there, offering His very self that we might live. We give Him to others when we act generously, speak lovingly, look upon others with love, treat them with reverence.
As we accept the call to receive Christ, we become what we receive. We become Christ, and give Him to others, hopefully without holding back. Christ says to us: “You share my life and my love when you do these things in memory of me.”
On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, will you join me to pray in great thanks and reverence:
Bread of Life,
Jesus, Holy and Risen One,
Keep us as fresh as the bread we break
and the wine we pour,
that like these simple gifts
which become Your Body and Blood,
our lives may become a source of freshness
for all we meet.
Amen.
~ Sister Joan Sobala
