Blood of Christ inebriate me by Jimmy Betsill, cantor
Every time that we partake of the chalice at Mass, the blood of Christ inebriates us. What does this mean? In the modern usage of the word inebriation usually involves alcohol and drunkenness. However in a more classical definition inebriation can mean to be exhilarated or extremely happiness. This makes perfect sense as every time we receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus we should be extremely happy to receive his blood. Not only because it is such a gift and blessing but it is also a reminder of what we did not have to endure.
We are still in the Easter Season where we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Not only are we grateful for Him raising from the dead to give us eternal life but it is also a reminder that the shedding of His blood is the only sacrifice needed for our eternal salvation. We see this in our offertory song this week One Sacrifice of Christ, as seen by the line “Christ has risen as he said and will come to wake the dead”. We are reminded that his sacrifice has given us eternal life and that nothing else needs to be done to have the ability to achieve it.
Not only are we given eternal life but we are given this opportunity out of love. We see this in our Gospel this week with John 15 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends”. Christ's sacrifice and the shedding of his blood is the ultimate gift of love he gives us. We see this in Verse 3 of Ubi Caritas “to share the bread of life becomes a sacrament of love”. Again this is further affirmed in Verse 3 of our sending forth hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today with “Love's redeeming work is done Alleluia!”. So when you receive Jesus in the Eucharist this weekend be overjoyed at what you have taken part in and being inebriated in his blood and love.