Donations Accepted

There comes a time in the lives of most of us when we have to wash someone’s feet.   Actually, more than feet when we find ourselves having to care for a loved one or even a stranger who can no longer wash him/herself.  

At today’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper Jesus reminds us of the need to bow down on bended knees to serve the ones who look to us for help because they are helpless.  We give our sweat and blood to those in need by sacrificing for them as if we put our blood on their doorposts so the LORD will pass over and no destructive blow will come to them – at least for a while, we pray.   Unlike in our first reading from Exodus (12:1-8, 11-14) when an unblemished lamb is sacrificed, we who are scarred and flawed sacrifice our time and convenience in compassionate acts of mercy and love.

As noted in our second reading from 1 Corinthians (11:23-26), Jesus broke bread and said, “This is my body that is for you.  Do this in memory of me.”  He gave us and still gives us his body, and he asks us to give our bodies to others in his name – a memorial to him.  One way to give our bodies is through organ donation.  It’s the gift of life.  Being an organ donor is made possible by indicating that wish on our driver’s license.  Each year 1.5 million people are helped through tissue and eye donation.  According to the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, “Donated heart valves can replace damaged ones, allowing the heart to function well again. Special grafts help patients with spinal deformities live normal lives. Musculoskeletal tissue replaces bone, tendons and ligaments lost to cancer, severe trauma, degenerative joint disease, arthritis and other conditions. Skin can save the lives of burn victims.” 

Jesus then said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.”  Jesus gave us and still gives us his blood, and he asks us to give our blood in his name – a memorial to him.  Giving our blood is though donation such as to Cape Cod HealthCare (CCHC).

According to CCHC, “About one in every seven people entering a hospital is in need of blood.  Cape Cod Hospital performs more than 7,000 blood transfusions each year. Falmouth Hospital performs more than 3,000 transfusions per year.  One pint of blood can save up to three lives, and there is no substitute for human blood.”

According to the responsorial psalm, we are Christ’s blessing cups in communion with the blood of Christ.  And why wouldn’t we be?  After all, we’re the Body of Christ. Therefore, in a mystical way, his blood flows through our bodies.  It is our inheritance with him.  He has given us a model to follow, so that as he did for us, we should also do.

We wash bodies; we give our bodies, and our blood.  Who knew when we sat at the Lord’s table for supper, so much would be expected of us?   A free meal it is, but donations are accepted.

Deacon David Pierce