A VERY BLOODY CHALLENGE

We just heard a very bloody Gospel reading today. After being “woed” by Jesus since Tuesday, the Pharisees are now charged with the shedding of the blood of the prophets of old. In our gospel, we also hear the names Abel and Zechariah - “from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” If we recall our Jewish history, in Genesis, which is the first book of the Hebrew Bible, we can read the story of Abel. It was Cain's anger that caused him to murder his brother Abel. In Chronicles, which is the last book of the Hebrew Bible, we can read the story of the prophet Zechariah. It was King Joash's anger that caused the stoning to death of the prophet in the temple area. The prophets of old, Abel, and Zechariah - their blood were spilled over the land because of anger and hostility.

In our first reading today, St. Paul reminds us of another bloody event in history - the crucifixion and death of Jesus on Calvary. Yes, his blood was spilled because of the anger and hostility of his enemies, but even before his enemies were able to carryout their evil schemes, Jesus had already “willingly laid down his life.” “On the night before he suffered, he took bread, and giving it to his disciples, said, 'This is my body, given up for you.' He took the chalice. 'This is the chalice of my blood, poured out for you and for many.'”

One of the earliest Christian symbols for the Eucharist is the pelican. The early Christians were moved at the sight of the pelican cutting itself open to feed its young with its own flesh and blood. Jesus gives us his flesh and blood – his entire self. Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on the blood of Christ, has this to say, “By gazing at the blood of Christ which flowed out from his sacred wounds, man can already say despite his abject poverty, God has not abandoned me. He loves me. He gives me his life. He gives me hope.” Blood, in Jewish culture, symbolizes life, and when blood is shed, life is given up. And when we say life, it means the totality of the person.

The Blood of Christ poured out for us even to the very last drop challenges us to “pour” ourselves over, to give all that we are and all that we have, to put our entire selves at God's disposal so that others may experience God's closeness, so that others can say, “God has not abandoned me” because I have a brother in Seminarian. I have a father in Father So-and-so. “God loves me. He gives me his life. He gives me hope.” And we echo the words of the Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord has made known his salvation!”

Lest we end up romanticizing shedding of blood, we would do well to remember that it involves going out of our comfort zone and taking the risk of being wounded by the pharisaical hypocrisy of people and the anger of modern Cains. It involves many little and unnoticed acts of self-giving. It is not a walk in the park but a climb up Calvary and descending to the tomb. Jesus's life becomes the pattern of our lives; we are conformed to the image of Christ, the good shepherd.

May we learn from the pelican, may we learn from Jesus's shedding of blood on the cross! At the end of our lives, may Jesus charge us not because we have caused the shedding of the blood of the prophets but rather may Jesus welcome us because we have shed our blood for others so that they too will have life and experience it in abundance. Amen!