Splashing with blood

In today’s first reading (Ex. 24:3-8), the covenant between God and his people is solemnized in a ritual that is not for the squeamish: large bowls of fresh blood being splashed on an altar and sprinkled on a crowd of people.

As grisly as the symbolic action may seem, it is also rich with meaning. For one thing, because blood has been associated with life, this action symbolized the life shared in this covenant between the Lord and his people. Thus Moses says,

"This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his."

The People of God would hear words like this again: words associated with another covenant – a new and everlasting covenant – and with blood that is infinitely precious:

And he took a cup,
and when he had given thanks
he gave it to them, saying,
"Drink of it, all of you;
for this is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:27-28

We should let neither many people’s squeamishness about blood nor some people’s obsessions about blood distract us.

Blood is something sacred and the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the most sacred of all.

The blood of Christ seals our covenant with God. The blood of Christ enables us to share life with God.

That is why it is so good to have a proper devotion to the blood of Christ: not to be focused on gore for its own sake, but to be deeply mindful of and appreciative for this most precious and life-giving of gifts.