Maybe the practice belongs to the past and today's generation no longer knows anything about "blood brothers." Even though we were girls, we called ourselves "blood brothers," the feminist movement not yet occurring to raise our consciousness about pronouns/nouns and feminine equality.
I remember being enthralled at the idea when my friend first proposed that we become blood brothers. She explained that we were to cut ourselves so that our blood would mingle together as one. From that time on, we would be "blood brothers," or family to one another --- if one of us was attacked, we would consider that both had been attacked. Whatever happened to one, it would be as if it happened to both.
I'm sure the idea traces back to families and tribes that banded together for the survival of all, and still remains today primarily with gangs and outlaws. In our individualistic culture, we tend to think that "I can do it all by myself," in the words of a popular song. We tend to think we don't need anyone else -- until we do!
In the Old Testament, Moses was instructed to take the blood of a sacrificial offering and to spread half of it on the altar and half sprinkled on the people. The life of the animal was the blood, and now, symbolically, God and His people shared the same life, as represented by the same blood -- He entered into their lives as a family member, as Father, as Older Brother, as Defender of armies, as Shepherd, as Mother (feminine equality again!), as Refuge in times of distress. And they were to enter His life of love, peace, joy, friendship, communion of Persons. The formal term for this exchange was "covenant," or "blood brotherhood."
In the New Testament, we have a new covenant, sealed and effected by the sacrifice and the blood of Jesus Christ. In the Eucharist, in communion with God, we now really -- not symbolically -- share the same blood with God Himself. We are "blood brothers;" what happens to one happens to the other.
He has entered into our life: he knows what it feels like to be hot and thirsty, what it feels like to have wool tickle the back of your neck, what it feels like to be hungry and weak, dependent on other people, what it feels like to be so tired that you fall asleep during a storm. He knows how it feels to be betrayed by someone you trusted, to be the scapegoat of other people's hatred and suspicion; how it feels to be tortured, nailed to a cross unable to breathe -- what it feels like to have your own mother watching you suffer and helpless to offer comfort.
And because we are now blood brothers, He has opened wide the door into His own life. The healings, the comfort, the provision, the forgiveness He extended during his earthly life continue today through His Body, the Church: "Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven." "I give you my peace...." "Of course I want to heal you..." "I give you the water of eternal life...."
All this is available to us in the Eucharist: Take and eat; this is my Body, given up for you. Take and drink, this is the blood of the new covenant, given for the forgiveness of sins.
No longer the blood of goats and calves, now the blood of God Himself. No longer sprinkled on us, but now taken in as our drink. As our life is taken up by Him, His life is now become our life. We are blood brothers, no longer symbolically, but really. Jesus told one of the saints: I am come to take up my dwelling in you, and to cleanse, enlighten, kindle, and animate your soul.
If we could only believe it, we could live it!
