If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from,how it ran down from the Cross (John 19:34), flowing form the Master's side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung in the Cross , a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood , of the Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord's side, he breached the wall of the Sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
There flowed from his side water and blood. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought ; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolized Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. From these two Sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,and from the Holy Eucharist.
Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh ( Gen 2:23)! As God then took a rib from Adam's side to fashion a woman , so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church . God took the rib when Adam was in deep sleep , and in the same way Christ gave us blood and the water after his own death.
Do you understand, then , how Christ has United his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat? By one and the same food we are both brought into being and nourished . As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk , so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own blood those to whom he himself has given life.
Thanks for reading this article.
Samuel Nyonje Muhanji wishe's you God's grace and fruitful moment.
[ Cf. Catechesis by St. JOHN Chrysostom , bishop. Office of readings : Good Friday. Breviary pg 392-393]
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