The Most Precious Blood of Jesus (3)

On the Mount Calvary, after Jesus got stripped off His clothes, this Cross that was laid in front of His eyes, does He not know that It was a representation of cruelty, shamefulness and injustice? Yes, He knew better than anyone else. Yet, He most willingly to be nailed onto It, and so to pour out His Precious Blood. From then on, this Cross becomes a true sign of Love, Forgiveness and Salvation for us until the end of time. But that is not all, after Jesus gave up His Spirit on the Cross, His Most Sacred Heart was pierced by a lance from the side, blood and water gushed forth from it - this is the origin and growth of the Church. "For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross." (CCC #766) Jesus, with His own Most Precious Blood bought the Church and made her His Holy Bride. He died, so she can be born. Jesus Christ Our Lord becomes the Church's Bridegroom and they become one body, one flesh. And we, members of the Church, become part of His Body. He Loves us, just as He Loves His Bride. He looks after us, just as His Beloved children. He nourishes us everyday, with His own Most Sacred Body and Most Precious Blood through our daily receiving of the Holy Eucharist, so our souls can be refreshed and strengthened and saved from dying of spiritual starvation. Many people in Jesus' time cannot understand when Jesus said to them: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him." (John 6:56) But just like Jesus describe Himself as the vine and we are the branches, which means we all need to share the same food, nutrients and water, in order for us grow and flourish; and like all cells share the same flowing blood within the body, thus without Him to nourish us with His very Self, we will wither and die. Behold, on the front of the main altar a bas-relief carving of the Lamb of God shedding hid blood for us (Book of Revelation) can be seen, similarly it is portrayed in the holy vision at Knock, in Ireland. It reminds us that from this Blood flows all graces for each one of us down the ages, It is the courage of martyrs, the strength of Confessors, the purity of Virgins, the help of those in peril, the relief of the burdened, the hope of the penitent, the consolation of the dying… Therefore, let us approach and receive the Eucharist and Precious Blood every time with love and reverence.