Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar . Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. . . Moses and Aaron and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel and they ate and drank. ( Exodus 24:6-11)

Ancient as these words and events are, they are the beginning of a covenant between God and the entire people of Israel. God had earlier covenanted with Abraham, but this is with the whole nation fathered by Abraham. In both covenants blood was shed. In this one the blood of bulls was sprinkled on the whole nation, including Aaron and the seventy leaders of the people. The sprinkled blood of of animals sacrificed as “fellowship” offerings to God, was sufficient to allow these men to enter the presence of God and eat and drink. The ritual sprinkling of the blood of animals on the altar and on the garments of priests would continue for centuries in Israel. It’s significance is simply that blood represented the very life of the animal (Deuteronomy 12:23), and God is the God and creator of life. It is a powerful bond, one that has lasted for millennia, transformed by Jesus into the ceremony that became the Communion in the Christian churches.

St. Paul wrote in Corinthians 6:10-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price.” The “price” is the blood spilled by God’s son on the cross. It is the prelude to Easter when the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus to give to whom he chooses. It’s a new covenant and a new way of life.

During Lent we can trace the gift in scripture and acknowledge it in our daily routines. We can pray to have more insight and understanding of God in our lives, acknowledging the mystery of Christ’s resurrection, and experience the fellowship of others who seek Jesus’ presence in their lives. On Maundy Thursday we return to the altar in communion, and recognize the gift of God in the bread and the wine. He has given us many ways to know Him. Lent is a good time to recognize the blood .

Love in Him,

Prue