When my father (may he rest in peace) wanted to impress upon my younger brother and me the importance of behaving well he would say to us, “Never forget whose blood runs through your veins, whose surname you carry.”

Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t forget. Besides our physiognomy and mannerisms that clearly demonstrated that we were blood relations, my father was a well-known and respected man in the city and our fellow townsmen reminded us of that frequently.

What happiness and pride we feel when others recognize us as members of a certain family due to the blood that flows in our veins and which generates physical characteristics that we cannot hide! How pleasing it is to be praised based on the sole merit of being a blood relation despite the fact that the relationship also carries with it a responsibility that we weren’t necessarily looking for.

The blood that runs through the veins of our soul is the precious blood of the Word of God made man, the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, spilt on the cross and transferred to each believer as they drank of the eucharistic chalice. That libation of divine blood which passes through our lips spreads itself through our whole being and likens us to Jesus; it compels us to act like family members: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

That is how it is described in the Acts of the Apostles: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart.” (Acts 2:44-46)

In the second century, Tertullian stated in his apologia against the gentiles that the pagans, filled with envy upon seeing the joyful fraternity of the Christians, would say, “Look how they love one another.”

The Christian blood type is universal positive

I do not have the slightest doubt that the incredible expansion of Christianity throughout the world was due above all to the newness of the fraternal love that surged from the blood of Christ, from that blood “poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.”

Throughout the centuries and through every continent, millions of tireless missionaries have faced all kinds of adversities in order to proclaim with their joyful service that we have a common Father, that we are brothers and sisters and that the same blood flows inside us.

That blood which burst forth from the heart of Christ pierced on the cross is universal positive. That blood gives health to whoever receives it. That blood is compatible with all others and generates a new physiognomy that makes the recipient look like Jesus, so as to be recognized as a member of the Christian family.

Universal positive blood type resists and destroys any type of contamination. It does not weaken with envy, persecution, segregation or disdain. It is not devalued by mixing itself with blood plagued with viruses of any kind. Its loving corpuscles are charged with powerful cells of optimism, joy, solidarity and unity that inject new life into hearts and new color, the color of loving joy, into faces.  That new color reminds us of whose name we carry, of whom we carry in our blood, that precious blood that makes us his family.

Members of the family of Jesus Christ

Even if our conduct contradicts the greatness of our family, Jesus will never deny that we carry his blood. He is always ready to gather us into the Father’s house; he sits us at the table and as he gives us his blood to drink; he acknowledges us as family.

This September we will have the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Together with families from around the world, Pope Frances invites us to rediscover the family values of unity, tenderness, protection and the privilege of giving life. The pope calls us to demonstrate joyfully what it means to be members of the family of Jesus Christ and the beautiful responsibility of carrying his blood throughout the world.

May Mary, the pure chalice from which Jesus received his precious human blood in order to be like us, makes us sing the wonders of belonging to this sacred family.