"His blood be on us and on our children"

As I've mentioned recently, one of the books I'm rereading this summer is the second volume Pope Benedict's remarkable work, Jesus of Nazareth. I read it rather quickly some months ago when it was first published, but it's not the sort of book that lends itself to a quick reading. It's actually the kind of book one should study and savor, and this I am trying to do by reading just a few pages each day.

Last night, as I made my way slowly through part of chapter seven on the "Trial of Jesus", I came across something truly wonderful, an insight by the pope that explained what for me had always been a challenging passage.

I'm sure you all remember that dramatic scene in St. Matthew's Gospel when the evangelist describes Pilate standing before the unruly crowd, washing his hands, and declaring, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood; see to it yourselves." The people in the crowd, all Jews, respond with, "His blood be on us and on our children."

Well, as I said, this passage has always troubled me. It sounds a lot like a self-inflicted curse and has been understood as such by many Christians over the centuries. But I could never really accept this. God who made covenant after covenant with His Chosen People would not abandon them, even in the face of the rejection and crucifixion of His Son. Indeed, the history of salvation as described in the Old Testament is really a history of rejection, repentance, and forgiveness, and often enough the repentance wasn't all that sincere. But God was always ready to forgive. It's also important for us to remember that Jesus carried our sins with Him to the Cross, not just the sins of the Jewish people.

And so, what exactly does this passage mean? How should we interpret those words: "His blood be on us and on our children"? Here's what Pope Benedict has to say:

When in Matthew's account the "whole people" say: "His blood be on us and on our children" [Mt 27:25], the Christian will remember that Jesus' blood speaks a different language from the blood of Abel [Heb 12:24]: it does not cry out for vengeance and punishment; it brings reconciliation. It is not poured out against anyone; it is poured out for many, for all. "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...God put [Jesus] forward  as an expiation by his blood" [Rom 3:23, 25]. Just as Caiaphas' words about the need for Jesus' death have to be read in an entirely new light from the perspective of faith, the same applies to Matthew's reference to blood: read in the light of faith, it means that we all stand in need of the purifying power of love which is his blood. These words are not a curse, but rather redemption, salvation. Only when understood in terms of the theology of the Last Supper and the Cross, drawn from the whole of the New Testament, does this verse from Matthew's Gospel take on its correct meaning [P. 187-188].

Now I understand! The Jews in Pilate's courtyard were not casting a curse on themselves; rather they were, even if unknowingly, asking for the redemptive, purifying power of the blood of Christ, for themselves and for all of humanity. Yes, how wonderful that His saving blood will fall on them and on their children. This is no curse; this is a blessing, or as Pope Benedict says, redemption!

How did Jesus put it just a few hours later, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" [Lk 23:34]? Like the Roman soldiers, those Jews in the courtyard didn't know what they were doing or to whom they were doing it. But that doesn't matter to Jesus. The redemptive power of His Precious Blood reaches out and touches all.

And are we any different today? How often do we fail to consider the effects of our sinfulness? Perhaps we should modify Jesus' prayer and make it our own: Father, forgive us; for we know not what we do.

The Blood of Christ! How blessed we are to have the gift of the Eucharist, the continuing presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, and the sanctifying, redemptive graces that God gives us through His Blessed Sacrament.

Pray for our pope; and pray for God's Chosen People, not so much for their conversion but for their fulfillment in their Savior, Jesus the Christ.


To Him be glory forever and ever...