We celebrate the solemnity of Corpus Christi (The feast of the body and blood of Jesus Christ). This year’s readings have one common reference to the blood of the covenant. The theme reminds me of a story from John Osteen’s, “Unravelling the Mystery of the Blood Covenant”. He shares an interesting story about Stanley who had gone in search of Livingstone, the first English missionary in Africa. He faced great opposition from strong, hostile African tribes. Stanley’s interpreter advised him to make a covenant with the tribe.
After making negotiations and setting the terms of the covenant, they went through a blood covenant rite. Blood was drawn from the wrist of the representative. Their blood was mingled together and missed with wine. They both drank. The gunpowder was rubbed on the wounds thus creating a permanent mark of the covenant. They exchanged gifts. The chief of the tribe demanded Stanley’s prized possession i.e. a goat. It gave him milk, the only means of survival. The chief gave his old spear bearing his insignia.
Stanley wondered how the spear would help him but soon he realized while searching in the darkest places in Africa the other tribes would recognize Stanley as someone who has entered into the covenant by his spear. They knew the tribe with whom Stanley had made a covenant, was the most dangerous tribe. If something would happen to Stanley, they would not be spared. Stanley received good co-operation from all the tribes in his search. It must have happened more than fifty times. It was a reminder of his covenant with the tribe.
The story of modern times takes us back to the ancient near eastern culture. The common features of the covenant-making rite in those days were pre-agreement, selection of representative, cutting off the covenantal sacrifice, exchange of gifts, the pronouncement of blessings and curses, the exchange of names, covenantal meal, etc. One of the most common features was the involvement of blood in the covenantal rite. The contracting parties could cut the arm and suck the blood of each other or mingle it in the wine and drink. They would be called covenantal brothers thereafter. The pouring out of blood played an important part in the covenantal ceremony. Later on, the blood of the animal was used in the covenantal ceremony.
The blood represents life. It has a source in God. The blood did not flow into man’s body until the time when God breathed on him. It is also considered as God’s insignia by which God makes a covenant, relationship with man. Blood was a vital symbol to make a covenant. The people of Israel used it just like their neighbours. It also reflected in their covenantal relationship with God. The bible depicts it all through the Old Testament that God constantly renewed his covenant with the people of Israel. There are many covenants recorded in the bible such as Edenic (Gen 13:15), Noahic (Gen. 9:1-17), Abrahamic (Gen 12-17), Mosaic (Ex 19-24), Davidic (2 Sam 7) in the Old Testament. All these covenants had some reference to blood.
We have the account of the Mosaic covenant in the first reading. Moses had received the ten commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. He explained to the people the terms of the covenant. The people had voiced that they would observe all the commands of the Lord. Then, Moses performed the solemn ritual. He built the altar with twelve stones representing twelve tribes. They sacrificed animals, half of the blood of these animals was sprinkled on the altar. Moses read the whole book of law and the book of the covenant. People promised that they will obey all that was in it. Moses then sprinkled the remaining blood on the people. Thus, the covenant was signed and a bond was created between God and the people on Mt. Sinai.
The covenant between God and the people of Israel did not last long. The people revolted against God. They broke the law-the covenant. The people deserved punishment for their unfaithfulness but God took yet again initiatives to enter into the new covenant. He wanted to make this time, a lasting covenant with humanity. It would be signed on the hearts of human beings that it may not be erased. God decided to become the victim of the sacrifice. He decided to offer this sacrifice by himself.
Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus had his last supper with his disciples. Jesus offered them bread as his body and a chalice as his blood. The twelve disciples who replaced the twelve tribes drank of it. Jesus referred to the chalice, “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” What Jesus said at the last supper, he finally executed it on the cross. The death of Jesus Christ is the final sacrifice by which God has signed the everlasting covenant. God offered his son to be the victim of the sacrifice on Mt. Calvary. Jesus shed his precious blood on the cross to seal the covenant with humanity. Thus, Jesus’ death replaced the old covenant.
In the second reading, the author of Hebrews rightly recognized Jesus being the final covenant. He says the blood of Jesus is higher than the blood of an animal. It has secured our eternal salvation. The blood of Jesus has sanctified us. Thus, Jesus becomes the mediator of the New covenant.
The Holy Eucharist is the enactment of what happened on Mt. Calvary. All the old covenants find fulfilment in Jesus Christ. At every Eucharist, Jesus makes a covenant with us. He takes the initiatives. He offers his body and blood to us. We need to be aware of the promise of the covenant. Jesus wants us to keep his new law: love of God and love of neighbour.
Let us pray that every Eucharist may help us to grow in a covenantal relationship with God.