XXVII About the consideration of the Blood of Jesus in three ways; and here about the first way, as that Blood was shed
XXVII
About the consideration of the Blood of Jesus in three ways; and here about the first way, as that Blood was shed on the Cross
OUR Lord ever calls us to His life-giving banquet, in which He has made ready for us very precious meat and drink, that is, His own Body and Blood. We have already meditated on the Body of Jesus; we now go on to meditate on His Blood. We can do this in three ways: A, as that Blood is shed on the Cross for the salvation of all; B, as it is drunk by the faithful in the Holy Sacrament; C, as it is drunk spiritually apart from the Sacrament by the saved. The first way is considered in this Meditation and the next; the second way in the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Meditations; the third way in the last Meditation but one. In the first way it is commended to us by its preciousness beyond all price; in the second way by its manifold usefulness; in the third way by its spiritual sweetness. As to the first way it is ever to be kept in mind; in the second way it is ever to be adored; in the third way it is ever to be desired. Now we consider it as commended to us by its priceless worth.
A. About this preciousness four things have to be noted: (1) the proof of its pricelessness; (2) the reason for paying so great a price; (3) the greatness of the power of this Blood; (4) the countless gathering of those that are redeemed by it.
The first two points we consider in this Meditation, and the other two in the next Meditation.
(1) There is the proof of the pricelessness of this Blood. This is shown in three ways: 1, by its virginal origin; 2, by the great worth of its innocence; 3, by its union with God.
1. The fruit of the vine, that is, of the Blessed Virgin, is grapes and wine, that is, the Body and Blood of Jesus. The wine of honour, therefore, born of the flower of the vine, is the Precious Blood of Jesus, drawn from a virginal source. Greatly indeed does it show us the worth and preciousness of the Blood of Jesus, that it took its beginning not as other blood from corruption, but from a virginal flower.
2. The more innocent that Blood is, the dearer it is and more precious. St. Peter contrasts the worthlessness of silver and gold with the preciousness of the Blood of Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God.
3. About the union of God and man Jeremias uses very strong words, saying that God has glued to Himself the whole house of Israel; that is, He has joined inseparably to Himself the whole nature of man, soul, body, and blood. As man has soul and flesh and blood, the Son of God, in being incarnate for his salvation, assumed the soul and body and blood of man to Himself, and so united them to Himself and so glorified them that they are truly called the Soul and Flesh and Blood of God. The Blood of Jesus, therefore, being the Blood of God, is so precious that one drop has more power than the whole world.
(2) The next thing about the Precious Blood is the reason for paying so great a price for the redemption of men; and this is threefold: 1, the necessity of paying so great a debt; 2, the proof of great love; 3, the recovery of the great good that had been lost.
1. The first reason for paying so great a price for man, that is, the Precious Blood of God, was the necessity of paying this great debt. The first man bound himself with the chain of a great debt; for he was bound to make satisfaction to God for himself and the whole human race, because he had robbed and slain by eating the forbidden fruit, and so justly might have been cast with all his offspring into hell, till by a sufficient victim he should pay what was owed. For it is just that satisfaction should be made according to the greatness of the sin and the dignity of the offended majesty; and this is seen by three steps: a, for a less fault, there is less satisfaction needed; b, for a greater fault, a greater satisfaction; c, for the greatest fault, the greatest satisfaction. Hence, in the law for the breaking of some commandments, it was decreed that some kind of animal should be offered or slain, and its blood poured forth; whereas for a greater sin, or for manslaughter itself, the man who did it had to be slain and his blood poured forth. Hence, because of so many manslaughters of our first parent, who slew all men—for in him all die—and for the majesty of our most High Maker, which was hurt by this, it follows that there must be offered to God and slain, and its blood poured forth, a victim so precious, that at least it should be equal to all who were slain. Now, as such a one could not be found among creatures, it was needful for paying so great a debt and freeing man from the prison of hell that one better than every creature, that is, the Son of God Himself, should become man, and be slain, and pour forth His Blood.
a. In the law there was a cleansing from uncleanness by blood, and no remission of sin without it, that there might ever be a prophecy of the Blood of the Lamb.
b. When one man shed the blood of another, there was no expiation but by the shedding of his blood, that it might be understood how needful was the shedding of the Blood of Jesus, our Elder Brother. We are saved from the wound and debt of eternal death by the price of blood.
c. St. Bernard says, ‘The Son of God is bidden to be slain, that by the balsam of His Blood our wounds may be healed. See, O soul, how deep are those wounds for which our Lord Jesus Christ must in turn be wounded. Truly, if we had not been wounded to eternal death, the Son of God would never have died for us.
2. The next reason for so great a price is the proof of the strength of His love. The spirit which He breathed from His Body, the water which flowed from His side, and the Blood which He poured from His Heart are the witnesses of His very great love. St. Bernard says, ‘Copious in truth is the redemption of Christ, for lavishly through five wounds of His Body He poured the stream of Blood, when one drop of that Blood would have been enough for the redemption of all our race; but it was thus given abundantly that the value of the lover might be known by the greatness of the gift. For, that He might show thee how He loved thee, He chose to save thee from death in no other way but by dying for thee.’ St. Augustin says, ‘O my soul most precious, not redeemed by gold nor by riches, but by the Blood of a sinless Lamb; see what thou art worth, think of that which was given for thee. Do not give up to destruction thyself, for whom Christ shed His Precious Blood.’
3. The third reason for giving so great a price is the buying back again the lost good; and this is threefold: a, freedom from the slavery of the devil; b, an entrance to the kingdom of Heaven; c, the heritage of the sons of God.
a. They who feel the sinfulness of their own hearts, their poverty and weakness and nakedness before God, will know how to thank Jesus for giving them the freedom of God.
b. As Jesus, our High-Priest, went into the holy place, having redeemed us, so He has made us priests and has promised that He will make ready a home for us, and that where He is there we also shall be. St. Jerome says, ‘The Blood of Christ is the key of Paradise.’ In the Passion of our Lord, Heaven, which had been long shut, was opened by the price of Blood that had been paid. One of the soldiers opened the side of Jesus; and on this it is said, ‘He has used a word for those that watch to understand; he does not say “wounded,” but “opened,” for there a door of life was opened whence came the Sacraments of the Church, and without these there is no entrance to eternal life. His Blood was poured forth for the forgiveness of sin, and water for our washing; because the race of men, shut out from Paradise by the debt of sin and its hideousness, could only find a way of return when their debt was forgiven by the Blood of Christ, and when they in the water of Baptism were washed from the filth of sin.’
c. In the old law a brother could redeem the possessions of a brother; and thus the inheritance which a man could not recover for himself might be brought back to him by another. A penitent thief once hung near Jesus on the Cross, and was with Him that day in Paradise.
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
About the Blood of Jesus; Drink the wine that I have mingled for you. Prov. 9:5.
They sung a new canticle, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book and to open the seals thereof; because Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God in Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Apoc. 5:9.
This is He that came by water and Blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and Blood: and it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth. 1 St. John 5:6.
He saith to them, My chalice indeed you shall drink. St. Matt. 20:23.
(1) The proof; 1. The virginal origin of this Blood; As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love. Ecclus. 24:23, 24.
The Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son. Is. 7:14.
2. Its innocence; They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood. Ps. 93:21.
Knowing that you were not redeemed by corruptible things … but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled. 1 St. Pet. 1:18, 19.
3. Its union with God; As a girdle sticketh close to the loins of a man, so have I brought close to Me all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah, saith the Lord, that they might be My people, for a name and for a praise and for a glory. Jerem. 13:11.
Because the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same. Heb. 2:14.
Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which He hath purchased with His own Blood. Acts 20:28.
(2) The reason; 1. Necessity of paying debt; a. Small transgressions; If any one sin through ignorance, and do one of those things which by the law of the Lord are forbidden, and being guilty of sin shall understand his iniquity, he shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest. Lev. 5:17, 18.
Almost all things according to the law are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb. 9:22.
b. Blood-shedding; Whosoever shall shed man’s blood his blood shall be shed, for man was made to the image of God. Gen. 9:6.
Defile not the land of your habitation, which is stained with the blood of the innocent; neither can it otherwise be expiated but by his blood that hath shed the blood of another. Numb. 35:33.
c. The sin to death; I will deliver them out of the hand of death: I will redeem them from death. Osee 13:14.
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. 1 St. John 1:9.
My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin. But if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just; and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 1 St. John 2:1, 2.
2. The proof of love in the price paid; There are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are one. 1 St. John 5:8.
With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Ps. 129:7, 8.
Israel was a child, and I loved him. Osee 11:1.
With everlasting kindness have I had mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Is. 54:8.
3. Recovery of good lost; a. Freedom from the slavery of the devil; The Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and hath delivered him out of the hand of one that was mightier than he. Jerem. 31:11.
Jesus answered them, Amen, amen I say unto you, that whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Now the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the son abideth for ever. If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. St. John 8:34–36.
b. Entering the Heavenly Kingdom; Christ being come a High-Priest of the good things to come.… by His own Blood entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb. 9:11, 12.
Having, therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the holies by the Blood of Christ, a new and living way which He hath dedicated for us through the veil, that is to say, His Flesh, and a High-Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith. Heb. 10:19–22.
After they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out Blood and water: and he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. St. John 19:33–35.
c. The heritage of the sons of God; If thy brother being impoverished sell his little possession, his kinsman if he will may redeem what he has sold. Lev. 25:25.
If thou have a faithful servant let him be to thee as thy own soul; treat him as a brother; because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him. Ecclus. 33:31.
N. The penitent thief; He said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. St. Luke 23:42, 43.
Prayer
O Holy Ghost, give me a great love of the Blood of Jesus: and give me also great confidence in it, and by it great peace and joy. Let that Blood cleanse me from all my sins, and make me pleasing to God and dear to Him. Let me drink of that Blood of Jesus, with desire and love, in this most Holy Sacrament. Sprinkle my soul more and more with this Blood, for it is the dew of the light. Though I have been slain by sin, though I have been dead in sin, let me rise and live again in Thee, O most Blessed Spirit. Thou, in Thy love, wilt give me back the years that the cankerworm and the caterpillar have destroyed. I wish to live every day more in the kingdom of God. That kingdom is justice and peace and joy in Thee, O Holy Ghost. Make me understand better the preciousness of the Blood of God, in its virginal spring, in its innocence, in its union with the Word. As the Soul of Jesus and the Body of Jesus are hypostatically joined to His Divine Person, so also is His Blood. Make me understand the greatness of the guilt which needed so great a price. O Blood of my Jesus, wash me and cleanse me and hallow me more and more. O Spirit of grace, from the slavery of the devil that Blood has brought me; into the kingdom of light that Blood has led me; a heritage of ceaseless joy that Blood has given me. I long to love it always, and always to love it more. O Holy Ghost, let my soul be steeped in the Blood of Jesus: let it be like a lily of the valley drenched with dew in the noontide sun.
Now I am going to receive that Blood at the Altar. Jesus is offered now for me in the Sacrifice of the Mass, and yet dieth no more. Let me be drawn to Him, as the thief near His Cross was drawn to Him; and let me so love Him now, and so live by Him the hidden life in God, that He may remember me always till I see Him in His kingdom.