Signs of Blood

Signs of Blood

Beginning in Genesis the first sign of blood becomes apparent when Cain kills Abel.  The sacrifice of Abel to God occurs when he presents an offering of one of the best firstlings from his flock.  This was a sign of his faith in God and the first sacrifice of the holocaust.  The first on many to follow.  

“Take your son Issac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.  There you shall offer him as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.”  “Abraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife.  As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham.”  “Father!  he said.  “Yes son,” he replied, Issac continued, “here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?”

(Gen. 22: 2, 6-7).

“Thus says the Lord; In Ramah is heard the sound of mourning, of bitter weeping!  Rachel mourns her children, she refuses to be consoled  because her children are no more.  Thus says the Lord; Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes.  The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward, says the Lord, they shall return from the enemy’s land.  There is hope for your future, says the Lord; your sons shall return to their own borders.”   (Jer. 31: 15 -17).  The slaughter of the innocent children, the loss of untold children will become the ancient sacrifice found in Matthew 2: 18, where Herod ordered all boys under two years of age were to be massacred.   “The prophecy from Jeremiah was fulfilled;  “A Voice was heard  in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”

“Moses called the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and procure lambs for your families, and slaughter them as Passover victims.  Then take a bunch of hyssop, and dipping it in the blood that is in the basin, sprinkle the lintel and the two doorposts with this blood.  But none of you shall go outdoors until morning.  For the Lord will go by, striking down the Egyptians.  Seeing the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over that door and not let the destroyer come into your houses to strike your down”  (Ex. 12: 21-23).  

“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.  For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.”  (Hebrews 9: 11-14).

“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.”  (Jn. 19: 33-34).

We are saved, not through endless hours of retreats, many rosaries, and even the Masses we attend.  Our salvation will come solely through the Sacred Blood of Christ.  As Jesus hung on the Cross at Calvary, each drop of his Precious blood removed the scourge of sin and brought each one closer to the kingdom prepared for us and the ultimate presence of Almighty God.  

From Genesis through the Resurrection of Christ each incident relating to blood is a step towards the Crucifixion and our redemption.  The mourning is essential as human loss requires it.  But the sign of blood renews our hope and our part with him who also shed his all.

Ralph B. Hathaway, A thought for all seasons 2021