by Sara McGanity
Tuesday in Holy Week
Jewish Passover
Jeremiah 15:10-21 Psalms 6, 94 Philippians 3:15-21 John 12:20-26
As Christians, we’re given a great gift: Holy Eucharist. The ability to actively participate in the Great Thanksgiving is an awesome thing. With such a gift comes great responsibility, and oftentimes, that responsibility is lost in translation: the rituals become routine and the words become memorized. Whether it’s singing the Sanctus, proclaiming the mystery of faith, or praying the Lord’s Prayer, we recite these excerpts – oftentimes without aid from the program. There’s a calming rhythm and peace that comes from knowing the words by heart, however, we must not forget the true meaning and power behind them.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
It took many years for me to (re)realize the connection between the words listed above and the Passover story from the Old Testament. When you dissect the words and get at the heart of the message, it’s truly powerful! We are given life, and are ‘passed over’ because Christ sacrificed himself for us. It’s quite humbling when it’s put into perspective – as it should be.
Keeping that in mind, don’t let the words become routine. Instead, may they stay ever-fresh in your mind and heart, so each time you recite them, their power renews you and encourages you to forever keep the feast.