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Words to Remember
Imagine a
family sitting down for a big Thanksgiving Dinner, the first time after some
tragic event - say a divorce or a death. They try very hard to make this a
special meal, but an awkwardness hangs over the whole affair. You can feel
it more than you can see it.
I wonder
if that wasn’t how it was for the "family" of disciples gathered
around Jesus on that Passover night. They were in Jerusalem, THE City of God’s
Shalom, ready to partake of one of the most central meals of their Jewish faith
They had made all sorts of special preparations, as directed by their Rabbi
Jesus. This was to be an extraordinary event for them. And yet, an awkwardness
hung over it all.
Don’t
you think they knew something was about to happen? They couldn’t have listened
to everything Jesus had been saying without picking up some clue to the troubles
that lay ahead. No, the "tragic" event was not in the past for them,
but it was very much a part of their awareness, nonetheless. And then there was
the rather cryptic words Jesus said during the meal about being betrayed. What
did Judas, one of the "family," have to do with this? Talk about a
tense moment on a very special occasion.
I have a
different "feel" for this meal this year since I am portraying Judas
in our upcoming production of Godspell. In this very room, my character
will betray Jesus with a kiss. Makes me wonder how I, as this character you call
"Pastor Pete," or the character my family calls "Dad" or
"husband," or the person thought of by some as "friend;" it
makes me wonder how I - today - betray my Lord.
Holy
moments are full of the awareness of our own failing. Think of the prophet
Isaiah who, when God first called him, said, "Woe is me! I am lost, for
I am a man of unclean lips, and live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes
have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (6:5).
That, also was an awkward occasion. Even so, in the background angels sang,
"Holy, holy, holy..." (6:3).
Holy
moments. This portion of our meal is a holy moment, also. We’re not meditating
in the sanctuary right now. We’re not down on our knees washing feet while we
sing gospel songs. We’re not breaking the bread and drinking from the cup of
the new covenant. We’re just eating. Lately, here at Long Green Valley our
table time during this part of Love Feast has grown quite noisy. In my previous
congregation, we ate in total silence. That didn’t quite feel right to me, but
neither does just talking about anything and everything. These are also holy
moments.
I wonder
about the conversation around the table before that first communion. What do you
think they talked about? Do you think they used the time to remember the first
Passover? I’d like to challenge you around your table tonight to see how much
you remember of the Exodus story (you’ll find it around the 12th
chapter of the book of Exodus). If one of our young observers is near you,
include them in your remembering. What was the purpose of the Passover meal that
Jesus and his disciples were eating, one meal among hundreds (if not thousands)
which was being eaten on that night in that city? I’m not calling for silence.
The disciples talked with one another, I’m sure. For one thing, scripture says
they wondered aloud with one another whether they were the betrayer. "Is it
I?" More importantly, though, they were remembering together how the blood
of the lamb saved God’s people in Egypt long ago. The blood of another lamb
would soon be shed. A new Exodus was about to happen.
Remember
together the foundational story of Passover as you eat. Later when you hear the
piano start to play, and the song-leader sing his/her portion of #164,
"When Israel was in Egypt’s land," be prepared to join in on your
part of that hymn. For now, let’s begin this meal with prayer.
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