Msgr Anselm Nworgu’s sunday reflection on 1/18/14
The Power of the Blood of Jesus
in my life
Have you ever thought of what you are receiving when you come to communion? Do you know that, for those who come with the power of faith and proper disposition, receiving the Blood of Jesus Christ is to receive the most powerful force both in heaven and on earth into their life; a force that can accomplish everything they ever dare to dream of in life? There are six powerful forces at work when you receive Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God—in Holy Eucharist.
1. The Mark of the living God in your soul: Just as the blood of the paschal lamb in Exodus 12:7-13 smeared on the doorpost of the house of the Israelites was a sign for the angel of death to pass them by, so is the Blood of Jesus the mark of the living God signed unto us when we receive with the power of faith and proper disposition, baring every principality and dominion, every authority and power of darkness from harming us, causing them to pass us by.
2. Takes away our sins: Just as the scapegoat of Leviticus 16:8-21 bore the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins as it is cast into the desert, so does the Blood of Jesus relieve us of all our sins and transgressions (Rev 1:15)—whatever is offensive to God and destructive of our happiness. In the Blood of Jesus is the power to cancel both the guilt and the punishment of sin (Rev 7:13-14; Rev 5:9) and it does this each time we receive with the power of faith and proper disposition.
3. Makes us holy: Just as the blood of the two lambs of Exodus 29:37-38 consecrate the altar and make it and all who touch it most holy, so does the Blood of Christ, when received with the power of faith and proper disposition make us holy and a true temple of the living God (John 6:56). It is a moment of consecration of our whole self.
4. Unlocks the gates of grace into our life: Just as the Blood of Christ is the only power worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals (Rev. 5:9) so also, those who receive the Blood with the power of faith and proper disposition are receiving the power to break through every opposition, unlock every door of grace, and unseal every sealed opportunity in their lives.
5. Intercedes powerfully for us before God: If the blood of Abel spoke loud and clear to God (Gen 4:10) and the Bible says that the sprinkled blood of Jesus speaks louder and better than the blood of Abel (Hebrew 12:24), then for those who receive with the power of faith and disposition, what you consume is the power of intercession unequalled, the power to carry your petitions directly to God uninhibited.
6. Insurance for the Resurrection: Scripture says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day (John 6:54). Receiving the Blood of Jesus with the power of faith and proper disposition is to pay your insurance premium for resurrection on the last day.
AS you can see, to come to communion and receive without asking Jesus to release these powers into your life is to waste a tremendous opportunity that nothing else can give. As you receive the Body and Blood of Christ, you need to have these forces in mind and pray that Jesus will activate them in your life.