Midnight Mass: Vampire Christianity

Feasting On Everyone's Blood But Our Own

Dallas Willard once wrote of vampire Christianity saying many come to Christ saying, "I'd like a little of your blood, please. But I don't care to be your student or have your character.”

Michael Flanagan, the director and show runner of Midnight Mass, thinks the same. Pop-Christianity has much to say about the salvific power of Jesus’ blood, but little emphasis on the transformative power of Jesus’ life and way — a way the New Testament envisions followers of Jesus would imitate.

And that meditation — the idea that the blood is all that matters — is the heart of the 5th episode of Midnight Mass.

In episode 5, Riley, just like Father Paul before him, is attacked by Angel and turned into a vampire. Both Riley and Paul are dead and resurrected through blood. The threads of theology Flanagan is connecting are obvious, but gentle. Blood. Blood. Blood.