Elements of Precious Blood Spirituality Precious Blood

Elements of Precious Blood Spirituality

Precious Blood o In prior years lots of devotional materials n Meditation on shedding of Christ’s blood at various points of his life n Some pretty gruesome stuff o About 20 years ago began articulating more of a contemporary spirituality

The Red Cross

Blood in Jewish Tradition o Is life giving n Recall Jewish attitude toward blood n May not eat blood – source of life o That’s why sacrifices often entailed shedding of blood.

For the Hebrews… o “Since the life of a living body is in its blood, I have made you put it on the altar, so that atonement may thereby be made for your own lives, because it is the blood, as the seat of life, that makes atonement. ” (Lv 10: 11) o “Since the life of every living body is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You shall not partake of the blood of any meat. Since the life of every living body is its blood, anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off. ” (Lv 10: 14)

As applied to today o To bring the life-giving blood of Christ to where it is needed n We are called to be life givers o Biologically speaking n The body rushes blood to site of injury where it is needed most.

Blood in our world

Sr. Dorothy Stang SND

Themes of Precious Blood Spirituality o Covenant o Cross o Cup o Reconciliation

Themes of Precious Blood Spirituality COVENANT

Covenant o A sacred trust, agreement o In OT often sealed in blood n The source of life n Made them “family” o Contemporary Legal Understanding n Usually attached to property n Effects are ongoing

Covenant Theology o Covenants and Contracts n binding parties n responsibilities n differences between contract and covenants o love and fidelity o covenant made with a religious ritual o ever-lasting

Covenant Theology o Restoring original relationship n “my people” n Against rampant individualism o Community building -- OT connections n Blood of New Covenant shed for ALL

The Davidic Covenant o 2 Sam 7: 1 -17 n Deeds of God n Promise of an everlasting house and a royal line o Connection to the Messiah

And what happened. . . o David sinned n 2 Samuel 11 o The Kingdom did not last long n foreign invasions n incompetent and sinful rulers

But. . . o The Covenant is everlasting o A messiah/king will come. . .

Covenant & Reconciliation o The Covenant is a love story n unconditional love of God for his people n bond of the covenant is not law but love o The narratives of Israel’s breaking of the Covenant have meaning for us during Lent n God always ready to renew the Covenant o God loves his people so much that he has given us a Covenant sealed with the Precious Blood of His Son Jesus Christ

Themes of Precious Blood Spirituality CROSS & SACRIFICE

Cross o Ritual Sacrifice n Communication n Scape Goat

Ritual Sacrifice o Part of most religious traditions o A form of communication between humanity and the divinity (divinities) n An offering n Acceptance by divinity n Reincorporation o E. g. , The Scape Goat

The Scape Goat

How do we bridge the gap? God

Ritual Sacrifice Divinity

Original Disobedience o First humans seek own will n The LORD God gave man this order: "You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die. “ (Gn 2 16 -17)…You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!" (Gn 3: 11)

Obedience o "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will. " (Mt 26: 39) o "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done. " (Lk 22: 42) o "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will. " (Mk 14: 36)

From The Passion

Outside the gate o The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. Hebrews 13: 11 -14

Outsiders and “no-bodies” o. To be inside was to be somebody; connected to community o. If you didn’t belong somewhere, you were a no-body o. Outside was wilderness – dangerous, a zone of desolation n The sick were often doomed outside n Prevents spread of disease, but isolated from community

The Dump outside the gate – Giza Plateau Egypt 2000

A reversal o Now atonement was not in sanctuary of Temple, but outside the gate o God is choosing to dwell most intimately in place where there is no belonging o True power found in the helplessness and shame of victim on cross

Themes of Precious Blood Spirituality THE CUP

Cup o Lots of cups in scripture n Blessing cup, overflowing cup, cup of suffering o Sharing in the one cup at Passover Meal

The Cup at Meals o Sharing a meal was significant n Equality around the table n Significance of including the outcast o 2 cups in Luke’s account (3 altogether) n Kiddush (1 st cup) thanksgiving for covenant with Israel n Another one after haggadah (Passover story) n 3 rd cup at end of meal – cup of blessing

Four elements 1. Blood of new covenant 2. Blood poured out for you 3. Cup of suffering 4. Cup of blessing

New Covenant o Ushering in of the new reign of God o Both covenants sealed in blood n Blood (wine) of new/final covenant is drunk as the blessing cup n For Jews thought of drinking blood repulsive n Now blood that belongs to God is with the disciples of Jesus n Partake in very life-force of God

Blood poured out for you o Jesus makes clear that his blood takes place of animals n Cup becomes sin offering n Evokes memory of suffering servant n Jesus’ death seen now as sacrifice rather than execution o The effects of this blood shedding are ongoing …Eucharist

Cup of suffering o Cup in scripture is vessel for gathering and collecting n Cup was vehicle by which diverse experiences could be passed on to another n Jesus gathers his destiny and sufferings in the cup o Can you drink of the cup? o To share cup was to share in struggle to bring about reign of God …suffering

An aside (not really) o As Eucharistic Minister… n Do we have courage to offer the cup? o Sharing in solidarity with victims of this world o Announce the hopes and sufferings of our community n Can we drink of the cup?

Cup of Blessing o Is not the cup of blessing that we bless, a participation in the blood of Christ? (I Cor 10: 16) o I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. (Ps 116: 3)

Cup of Blessing o A celebration and thanksgiving o Celebration of the reign of God among us o As we offer to take cup, do our lives reflect the joy and peace of the reign of God? o Joys and sufferings of our world poured into us

Significance of the cup o Cup is where suffering and blessing come together o Helps us imagine a reconciled world o A symbol of hope, of mingling and sharing o Redemptive and transformative aspects of drinking form the cup

Themes of Precious Blood Spirituality RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation o Spirituality of Precious Blood is about a willingness to enter into suffering with others n Through suffering comes new life o Reconciliation is “bringing people and relationships into proper perspective”

Reconciliation is. . . …bringing people and things into their proper relationship Fr. Barry Fischer, C. PP. S. Former Moderator General of C. PP. S.

Bridging the gap

The blood of Abel cries out from the ground

Peter denies Jesus 16 th – 17 th Century paintings

Peter receives keys to Kingdom of Heaven

Themes of Reconciliation* o Dignity & Identity o Memory & Truth o Resurrection *Robert Schreiter, C. PP. S. The Ministry of Reconciliation

Dignity and Identity o Return to wholeness n “hurt” doesn’t have same power o Recovery of identity and worth n as created in image of God o In communities… n restoration of relationships

Memory and Truth o Truth lies at heart of reconciliation o Distorted memories often masquerade as truth n past cannot be ignored n It’s not “forgive and forget” o Lies must be confronted

Forgiveness? o Cannot forgive and forget o Both a process and decision n Process of becoming free from the past o acknowledging wounds & memory n Decision for a different future o change of the victim’s relationship to the deed’s ongoing effects to the survivor’s rejection of the trajectory of the traumatic event

Resurrection o. For Christians this seems to be key o. The hope that “something good can come from this” n A transformation, which still bears “wounds” o. Original harmony between God and humanity restored

Reincorporation o Relationship is different n E. g. , Peter’s denial of Jesus n E. g. , when teenagers were late for curfew – took a while to restore trust o Establish conditions so that this will not happen again

o Difficult when wrongdoer does not acknowledge guilt n But, can’t let the hurt consume us n No longer a victim, but a survivor o The hurt doesn’t have the same power o Can happen even if there is no admission of guilt

Rwanda Nickel Mines Restorative Justice SOME CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLES

Rwandan Genocides What is best way to bring about reconciliation? n Passage of time n Cultural issues o E. g. , Rwandan children to draw feelings of trauma

Nickel Mines, PA (2006) o Think of the forgiveness of the Amish after the brutal murders of their children n "If you have Jesus in your heart and he has forgiven you … [how] can you not forgive other people? " n When asked if Roberts‘ [the murder’s] wife would still be welcome in the community, one person said he believed she would, adding she would be welcome even at the funerals for the dead girls.

Restorative Justice o Begins in 1990 s o Seeks to reconcile victims and perpetrators by: n focus on transforming wrongdoing by healing the harm, n involving all stakeholders, and n transforming the traditional relationship between communities and their governments in responding to crime.

Restorative Justice o Assumption that crimes or violations are committed against real individuals, rather than against the state. o Advocates restitution to the victim by the offender rather than retribution by the state against the offender. n Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation

PBMR

To hear cry of the Blood o In alienated relationships n reconciliation--building community o In impoverished areas around us o Blood speaks of Life o On a very practical level

Contemporary Context o. Interdependence? n gap between rich and poor get larger n ethnic group against ethnic group n those with access to self-improvement and those excluded o. New Covenant offers a new vision: n No one is excluded from God’s goodness n For us--how would north/south relations look?

Contemporary Context o Redemptive suffering n only when connected to greater good or tied to larger story of God’s action in history n Jesus’ suffering o betrayal by friends o humiliation o abandonment o A sign of liberation--suffering can be turned into redemptive ends

Contemporary Context o Vision of reconciliation n world gets smaller and yet. . . n Conflicts abound o Vision is not restoring world to former state n but a transformed world o Something that can be applicable no matter where we are

Challenges Create zone of safety & hospitality Accompany people on road to reconciliation Commitment to truth Communities of memory and hope