Passing beneath Christ’s outstretched arm
Part 3: Changed forever
That look of love, if you caught it, if you chose to pass through rather than turn aside, and if you paused to look as you passed through, rather than simply rushing into freedom regardless of the cost paid for your freedom – though perhaps anyone who did not look would discover that they have not truly passed through – that look of love is indelibly marked into our souls. Whatever happens afterwards, it remains true that once we shared a look of love with him who is pure love. And, I have to say, if you press me, that I think that is enough. It is that shared look that has redeemed us. I want to say that it is Christ’s outstretched arms that have redeemed us, but that is what has made possible the opportunity to be redeemed. True redemption happens when we look, and see that he is looking at us. That should be enough – and perhaps it is, but there is more, so much more – needed because of our immense weakness.
As we passed beneath his arm, a drop of his blood fell into our souls. An antidote against the poison? Immunisation from the disease? The elixir of life? The savour of life touching our tongues? The scales falling from our eyes? The kiss of love that wakes us? How may we even begin to express what is happening? It could be as simple as a drop of dye transforming the whole colour of life. Or the stamp of authenticating entry on the reveller’s wrist. But if a look should prove insufficient, this drop of blood will not. It was too costly in its pouring to ever be valueless or ineffective. The receptacle that holds it is too precious for the effect of the falling to fail.
It was real blood that fell, and our soul is a real chalice into which it falls. It must be real blood that was shed. If we were more principled, then perhaps a principle of love, falling from Jesus’ lips might have saved us. But we are not. I understand the horror of blood – but it is blood that makes us live. And talk of sacrifice and transactional debts that must be repaid is offensive to modern ears, though it was a fair attempt to understand. But really all this is beyond clear explanation, beyond full understanding – but not beyond us. What has happened is within us.
If you do not believe you have a soul, you have nothing to hold out to catch your drop of his blood. Or rather, if you have a soul you have one whether you believe it or not, so perhaps for you the image is that you have turned your chalice upside down. Inverted, the drop of blood cannot be caught and so you lose your invitation, and anyway, you did not draw close to stoop beneath his arm. But still his blood was shed for you.
Spiritual Devotion 