The Power of the Blood

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, January 23rd, 2021

For some days now, the letter to the Hebrews centres on how the covenant in Jesus Christ surpasses that of the old. The new covenant surpasses that of the old because Jesus Christ is our high priest, the mediator of the covenant. Jesus Christ, Himself, meditates the blessings of the covenant. Jesus Christ obtained for us grace and mercy, with something better, more effective and powerful to cleanse us of our sins. While the high priest of the old covenant entered the Holy of holies with the blood of goats and bulls to obtain God's mercy for the people, Jesus Christ entered with His own blood, which is more effective, efficacious and powerful than that of animal. He achieved it once and for all, unlike the high priest of the old covenant who did it every year. 

It is a general knowledge that human blood is of more value than animal's, lest not think of the blood offered by Jesus Christ as that of the blood of God. When we think of the blood as the blood of the Son of God, we come to realize that the mercy and grace obtained in Jesus Christ is beyond all telling. Hence, the covenant in Jesus Christ wins for us more excellent grace, mercy and blessings; forgiveness in Him is more sure, certain and guaranteed. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses deep to the soul; it cleanses the body, the mind and the soul. It has the power to free the mind from the world and to turn it to God. The reading says, "For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Let us always take bold step to approach the sacraments, the ordinary means, through which the blood is dispensed.

Jesus Christ has offered us more excellent opportunities; by His redemptive works He has made our age more excellent and glorious. We are now living in a more glorious and excellent dispensation; age in which grace and mercy are abundant. The gospel reading shows us how much Jesus Christ is committed to our salvation. He gave Himself entirely for our salvation beyond all telling that His friends though He must have been mad. All this shows that our salvation in Jesus Christ is sure, certain and guaranteed; let us hold fast to our faith and the love of God and to always hope in Him for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the grace and mercy you have won for us, open our eyes that we may see the blessings and so to always hope in You for salvation. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke