Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 / Matthew 10:16-23
The phrase “blood is thicker than water” has many meanings.
The literal meaning is obvious, while other meanings point to the bonds of relationships.
That phrase also points out that blood should not be carelessly or violently shed.
But so often in the history of mankind, blood is shed like water.
From what Jesus said in the gospel, the shedding of blood, even among relations, did not seem like a serious matter.
Brothers will shed each other’s blood, and parents and their children will shed each other’s blood.
But the shedding of innocent blood will not go unnoticed by God.
And God will also intervene to stop the shedding of innocent blood.
God intervened to stop the shedding of Joseph’s blood by his brothers.
And in the end, Joseph was emotionally reunited with his father Jacob, and that showed that blood is thicker than water.
Jesus has shed His blood on the Cross to save us.
Let us not shed any more blood, whether literally or figuratively.
May the blood of Jesus cleanse us of all our sin, so that we can regain our humanity, and strive for holiness and charity.