There is an old southern Baptist hymn that goes “would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood. Would you over evil a victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood. Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s power in the blood. Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide. There’s power in the blood.”
The month of July is traditionally devoted to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.
I like the lyrics of that old hymn because it expresses how the Blood of Jesus has powerful effects.
The blood of Jesus frees us from the burden of sin. It helps us win victory over evil. It frees us from our passions and pride. And it is an encounter with the Lord on calvary.
Our Faith tells us that the Lord loved us so much that he poured out his blood for us, for “the forgiveness of our sins”. The Blood of Jesus has relieved us of a burden, a terrible burden, the heaviest of burdens—the weight of sin--which keeps us from heaven. And now, freed from the weight of sin by the blood of Jesus Hebrews says Christians are able to “run with endurance the race that is set before us”. The burden of unforgiveness no longer weighs us down, and now we are able to persevere in the ways of God with a newborn lightness.
I don’t know about you, but it’s a lightness I feel every time I go to confession, and often when I receive Holy Communion. A lightness to persevere in the faith.
Secondly, the hymn says the blood of Jesus helps us win victory over evil. This is consistent with the old Baltimore catechism, which taught that the eucharist—the sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus—was instituted To lessen our evil inclinations. The blood of Jesus in the Eucharist preserves us from future sins by lessening or loosening evils grips on us.
The blood of Jesus frees us from our passions and pride. The power of our passions are often very strong, but the blood of Jesus is stronger, the power of God is stronger, and helps us not to be ruled by our passions. Many people believe that happiness is found by following every passion that arises in their hearts and bodies. But because of sin, our passions do not always point to happiness and holiness. And the blood of Jesus helps us to resist those sinful passions, in order to follow what is truly good for us.
Finally, the hymn tells us “come for a cleansing to calvary’s tide. When we receive the blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, we are cleansed of our venial sins, as if we are kneeling at the very cross of calvary. In fact, when we come to Mass, we are made spiritually present to Calvary, the source of our salvation, which is why we call the mass, the sacrifice of the mass, because the mass makes us present at the one saving sacrifice of Christ, in which blood is shed for our salvation.
May Christians truly open their hearts and souls to the true power of the blood during this Eucharistic revival for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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To God the Father Almighty, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for it is His will that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
For the Church during this time of Eucharistic Revival: for a deeper love and reverence for the Bread of Life; that the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist will help us to live out our vocation to holiness with greater zeal, self-sacrifice, and trust in God.
That during this month of July dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus: we may grow in gratitude for the gift of our salvation and more zealous for souls.
For our nation, that we may be always grateful for our freedom, and that with God’s help we will work to preserve that freedom and to use that freedom to build up the city of God.
That our young people on summer vacation, for their protection from physical and spiritual evils, that faith may be practiced in their homes, that their parents may raise them rightly in the faith, teaching them to value the things of heaven over the things of earth.
For all those who suffer from violence, war, famine, extreme poverty, addiction, discouragement, loneliness, and those who are alienated from their families.
For all those who suffer illness, and those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care, that they may be comforted by the healing light of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Graciously grant our petitions, we beseech thee, O Lord; may your grace sustain us always in your service, through Christ Our Lord.
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