Blood donation has become a civic-minded, common practice promoted by modern medical science. By donating blood, we donate new life—just as new life has been given to us through the blood of Jesus our saviour.
The second week of June begins with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This liturgical celebration is a joyful reminder of Jesus’ abiding presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and he whispers to his disciples: “My Body, My Blood, given for you”. In those words and actions, in that sacred moment of giving, Jesus offers his divine life and nourishment to everyone who believes in him.
As we celebrate Corpus Christi, we are reminded of the two manifestations of Christ in the Eucharist and the Church – both constitute the one body of Christ. As a community of believers, the Church is the mystical body of Christ. Through participation in the chalice of his blood, the Church forms a community of “blood relatives” or the new family of Christ, whose only law is to love God and serve one another.
Giving blood is one way we can serve. World Blood Donors’ Day will be observed this year on June 14, a few days after Corpus Christi. The World Health Assembly in 2005 designated June 14 as an annual event to celebrate and thank voluntary blood donors around the world for their gift of blood.
The slogan for the 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign is“Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.” It focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma.
The world understood the science of giving blood to save lives in the second part of the 17th century. Although not in the sense of blood transfusion as understood today, Jesus spoke of giving life by giving his blood some 1,700 years before the development of science! “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” [John 6:54].
Taking part in blood donation is an excellent way to celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. There’s no substitution for blood. Patients with chronic diseases or those in need of surgery because of illness or accident count entirely on donors’ generosity. A report on RTHK on May 19 spoke about the Hong Kong Red Cross’ appeal for blood donations. “The local blood bank has appealed to people to donate blood,” the report said, saying stocks had dropped to a “very low level”.
A month ago, the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service reported that they had only four days’ worth of blood supplies and urged people to donate blood, especially those with blood types O, A and B. Part of the shortage is due to the pandemic. “Many people were infected with upper respiratory diseases such as the common flu or Covid during the flu season earlier this year,” the report said, pointing out that donors can only donate blood two weeks after recovering from an illness.
Let us take this Solemnity of Corpus Christi as an opportunity to commit to society by giving blood and showing compassion and support to those in need. Jose, CMF
