Most of all, the blood is not just a concept to believe, but a reality to receive (Jn 6:53-59). We drink the blood of Christ. A great scandal to the Jews - the forbidden part of a sacrifice. The life is in the blood. We receive divine Life itself! "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (Jn 6:56). The blood gives us eternal life (Jn 6:54).

Ecumenical issue: even here we have much more in common than we might think. Not only the Catholic Church emphasizes the Eucharist. Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Orthodox, speak of the Real Presence of Jesus, many other churches are placing more emphasis on the Lord's Supper. We should ponder the scriptures, avoid either extreme: Catholics can overemphasize the physical reality apart from deep participation in faith, Protestants can overemphasize communion in faith apart from the reality of the Presence. Catholics can live without any awareness or experience of the power of the blood in their daily lives; Protestants can neglect Jesus' words about drinking his blood.

Blood brings oxygen to every cell of the body; it nourishes the body with the breath. Without the circulation of blood the body would quickly die from lack of oxygen. The breath of the Lord Jesus is his Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). The blood nourishes us, his body, with the breath of his life.