Exodus 12:1-14a
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.
Luke 22:14-30
When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Exodus 12 and Luke 22 readings for today are closely linked. Exodus tells the story of the meaning of the Jewish Passover, the smearing of the blood of a sheep or goat over the doorway of a Jewish home to mark the inhabitants’ safety from God’s wrath on the Egyptians and the ritualistic meal and celebration at Passover which continues to be a major Jewish religious festival. Luke’s gospel, on this Maundy Thursday, tells the story of Christ’s Passover feast with his apostles, the last supper and now the nurturing of our weekly shared Eucharistic meal. “Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.’ Then he gave them the cup, saying, ‘This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.’”
Two meals, two peoples, one God, one message…God is love.
How will you share God’s love today?
--The Rev. Mary Jo Melberger
Thursday, April 5, 2007
April 3, 2007
John 12:20-26
20 -->Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus --> 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
John illustrates the principle of life through death; a reality often seen in the plant world. A grain of wheat lies dormant until it is cast into the earth, seemingly buried, and then, it is there, that it bears good fruit. Isn’t that also the case in our own lives? Aren’t there many times when we have to throw off lofty ambitions and ideas in order to draw ourselves closer to God? Change can be threatening and daunting or change can be exhilarating and empowering but taking the risk to change allows us to become more whole human beings. What can you let go of in order to create a fuller life? Risk the opportunity to draw closer to God.
--The Rev. Mary Jo Melberger
20 -->Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus --> 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
John illustrates the principle of life through death; a reality often seen in the plant world. A grain of wheat lies dormant until it is cast into the earth, seemingly buried, and then, it is there, that it bears good fruit. Isn’t that also the case in our own lives? Aren’t there many times when we have to throw off lofty ambitions and ideas in order to draw ourselves closer to God? Change can be threatening and daunting or change can be exhilarating and empowering but taking the risk to change allows us to become more whole human beings. What can you let go of in order to create a fuller life? Risk the opportunity to draw closer to God.
--The Rev. Mary Jo Melberger
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