The first reading today is taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. One verse stood out for me: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13) … and this is “the good news?” As I read the verse for the “umpteenth time,” I wondered if St. Paul was speaking of the Blood of the Cross (which he is as v. 16 makes clear) or the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Either one has the possibilities of raising questions among those who are inquiring about the Faith as happens this time every year in the OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults; also called RCIA) as they consider entry into full communion with the Catholic Church.

But even among faithful Catholics it is a common to asked about all the bloody sacrifices described in the Old Testament, to be asked about why it was necessary for God to sacrifice his only Son in Roman capital punishment which in our day the Church opposes, to be asked the Communion Chalice – are we really supposed to believe it is the Blood of Christ, and more akin to these.

Perhaps it is good to consider how often the New Testament refers to the Blood of Christ as central to the entire plan of salvation:

• “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” (Luke 22:20)
• “How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.” (Romans 5:9)
• “and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross (through him), whether those on earth or those in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20)
• “In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight” (Ephesians 1:7–8)
• “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” (Hebrews 9:11–14)
• “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5)

It raises the question of why the “blood of the Cross” was the path by which we are redeemed.

More to come…