June 5, 2010 at Saint Mark Church in Norman, OK
Genesis 14: 18-20 + Psalm 110 + 1 Corinthians 11: 23-2 + Luke 9: 11-17
Indiana Jones in the “Last Crusade” received a diary from his father with clues and a map for finding the Holy Grail, the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper. His father had been on a search for the Grail and had mysteriously disappeared. Indiana Jones, guided by the map begins a frantic search for his father. With the map, he sets out on his mission determined to beat an enemy to the Grail; an enemy who planned to use the Grail for evil purposes. It was the belief that this cup had supernatural powers to work miracles. It makes for a great story both as an adventure film, but also serves as chance to get something clear. The cup is insignificant. It has not power at all. What is in the cup matters, and what is in the cup has the power. More to the point, it is the Eucharist that is power, A power we might all do well to seek, but not for the power itself, but for what the power can do.
This day gives us the chance to make our own search, and this Gospel is our map. The power of God is not found in the Holy Grail but in the real presence of Jesus Christ whose blood is shared in this Eucharist. It is the presence of Jesus Christ in his blood and in his body that real power is found to work miracles.
There is a painting by Pacino di Bonaguida entitled “Tree of Life” hanging in the Academy Art Gallery in Florence. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus on a tree, with twelve branches on which are hung circular illustrations of the significant moments of the Christ event. The top circle of the painting has an illustration showing a mother pelican feeding her young. This image is rooted in a pre-Christian legend that during a time of famine or draught, a mother pelican would wound herself, striking at her breast with her beak in order to nourish her brood and stave off their starvation. Drawing on the same ledged, Thomas Aquinas composed the hymn known as “Adoro te devote” and applied the image to Jesus “O loving Pelican! O Jesus Lord! Unclean I am, but cleanse me in thy blood, of which a single drop can save the whole world.” In every reading today this saving power of blood is celebrated.
In all of history there is evidence that blood is sacred and appreciated as essential to life and the exclusive property of God, the author of life. Because of this blood figured very importantly in the relationship that Israel was so privileged to share with God. While the Israelites were enslaved among the Egyptians, blood on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite homes served as a sign of protection and delivered them from death. After being led to freedom and to a future that held out the hope of a land of their own, the people of Israel sealed their new relationship with God with the blood of sacrificed animals.
The implication of this action is that those bound to one another by this covenant of blood would rather die than breach their relationship in any way. History still tells us that the covenant was broken repeatedly, but God’s great and generous mercy renewed it again and again until one last time in Jesus Christ. It is our belief that this final covenant is the end and the best of all. With profound and dramatic simplicity, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it, aware that his very self would soon be taken, broken, and given so that sinners would be blessed with healing and forgiveness. At every Eucharist, these words are spoken again as the action of Jesus is repeated leading believers enter into the triple dimension of Jesus’ life. This holy memorial is the source of our strength and unity, and the sustenance that feeds our faith, fires our hope and inspires our love. This act of holy remembering is charged with a challenge: those who are fed by Jesus and bound to him, to God and to one another through his blood-sacrifice are also taken by him, broken like him and given as he was so that others might know something of his life and goodness in us. If we do not want to be broken and be shared, we shall not be blessed, and ought not to take this cup which contains the power to work miracles.