July 4th — Types of the Precious Blood: (i) The Blood of Abel.

1. Abel was slain by his cruel brother Cain because he offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, and his brother, filled with rage at the acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice, deliberately shed his innocent blood. So the Jews, filled with rage at the exceeding holiness of Jesus’ life, and at the sweet attractiveness of His words, and the divine beauty of His works of mercy, shed His Precious Blood. So the wicked are ever enraged against the good and grudge them their favor with God.

2. The blood of Abel cried out to God for vengeance on his murderer. The blood of Jesus, which speaketh better things than that of Abel, cries out to God for mercy on those who have outraged Him and put Him to death. Even while Jesus hung on the cross, He prayed His Father to forgive them, and ever since, as long as the world shall last, His blood still cries, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

O Jesus, may Thy blood thus cry out for me!

3. Yet, at the same time, it cries for vengeance on those who deliberately and wilfully reject Him. Long, indeed, He bears with them, long and patiently. Yet if in the end they spurn His Precious Blood, His very mercy will bring upon them a vengeance in proportion to His offer of love.

O Jesus! may I never reject Thee or refuse Thy love and mercy!

July Precious Blood of Jesus Meditations