AND DRINKS MY BLOOD

Pr 9,1-6; Ps 33; Eph 5,15-20; Jn 6,51-58
19 AUGUST
Jesus asks the Jews to cancel the Old Covenant from their mind and heart and enter a whole new world, indeed more than new. In a world neither thought of nor imaginable by them. They are asked, in order to have their life, to drink his blood. It suffices to read only the provisions on the blood according to the Law of Moses and we will be convinced that Jesus’ requests are a real leap into another religion, another faith, another alliance and a different mental structure. The new is absolute. The Jews had to spread the blood of the victims or of any other animal on the ground. Blood was life. The meat was eaten and life was given to God. The blood did not belong to them.

And if anyone, whether of the house of Israel or of the aliens residing among them, partakes of any blood, I will set myself against that one who partakes of blood and will cut him off from among his people. Since the life of a living body is in its blood, I have made you put it on the altar, so that atonement may thereby be made for your own lives, because it is the blood, as the seat of life, that makes atonement. That is why I have told the Israelites: No one among you, not even a resident alien, may partake of blood. “Anyone hunting, whether of the Israelites or of the aliens residing among them, who catches an animal or a bird that may be eaten, shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. Since the life of every living body is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You shall not partake of the blood of any meat. Since the life of every living body is its blood, anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off (Lev 17,10-14). “After the Lord, your God, has enlarged your territory, as he promised you, when you wish meat for food, you may eat it at will, to your heart’s desire; and if the place which the Lord, your God, chooses for the abode of his name is too far, you may slaughter in the manner I have told you any of your herd or flock that the Lord has given you, and eat it to your heart’s desire in your own community. You may eat it as you would the gazelle or the deer: the unclean and the clean eating it alike. But make sure that you do not partake of the blood; for blood is life, and you shall not consume this seat of life with the flesh. Do not partake of the blood, therefore, but pour it out on the ground like water. Abstain from it, that you and your children after you may prosper for doing what is right in the sight of the Lord. However, any sacred gifts or votive offerings that you may have, you shall bring with you to the place which the Lord chooses, and there you must offer both the flesh and the blood of your holocausts on the altar of the Lord, your God; of your other sacrifices the blood indeed must be poured out against the altar of the Lord, your God, but their flesh may be eaten. Be careful to heed all these commandments I enjoin on you, that you and your descendants may always prosper for doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord, your God (Dt 12,20-28).

Jesus comes. He tells the Jews that they must break this law forever. They must drink his blood, which is man’s blood. Can Jesus ask this? We can answer if we introduce a new element into the discourse. Jesus was recognized as a true prophet. If he is a true prophet, he has only the Word of God on his lips. If God says this Word, then we must go to this last Word of his. This is the most logical speech possible. Instead the Jews do not enter the truth of the Word.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Whoever speaks must attest that he says the Word of God. Jesus has attested it by multiplying the loaves. Who listens knows that before him there is a prophet and opens himself to faith.

Wise Virgin, Angels and Saints arrange that every Christian witnesses his truth to the world.