Thanksgiving and Hope

The psalmist in the the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary asks "What shall I return to the Lord for all His bounty to me? This is the response we have as we survey our life and the graciousness of God which is evident in our recollection. In the passage from the Book of Exodus, Moses gathers the people to bring them to the realization and celebration that God is leading them to a New Life. The path to the New Life will be the fulfillment of the Promise to "be your God". Moses, in as commented by Friar Jude Winkler, performs a ritual to "cut a Covenant". The blood was understood as the "life force" from God and the uniting of the blood on the alter with the blood sprinkled on the people recognized the blessing of God in their lives and the curse which would fall on them, death, if they chose to reject God. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the high priest who brings the good of God, which is life force for the people, through the blood of Christ, Who, through the Spirit, offered Himself without blemish to God. Father Larry Gillick SJ reflects on the longing of humanity for the full as well as the good. We hope that our giftedness will continue and our relationship to God will bring even more Life. The Gospel of Mark is the "institution narrative" for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It is the continuation of the celebration of the Passover of Jesus with his disciples in which He is Present and we become what we are... the Body of Christ. This Covenant is witnessed in the Blood of the Lamb and is thanksgiving to God for the Love and Spirit which is the "Life Force". In the grace of this New Life, we hope to live out the relationship with Jesus that makes all people brothers and sisters who will share in the Cup through our witness as Christians.