(From the catechesis by St. John Chrysostom, bishop.)
If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s Blood, remember where itcame from, how it ran down from the Cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The Gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the Cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out Water and Blood. Now the water was a sign of baptism and the Blood of the Holy Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side and breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb; the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
There flowed from his side Water and Blood.
Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that Water and Blood symbolized Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing water that gives re-birth through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist. Since the symbols of Baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gave a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!
As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion woman, so Christ has given us Blood and Water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the Blood and Water after his own death.
Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat?
By one and the same food we are both brought into being and are nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own Blood those to whom he himself has given life.
