Friday 17 July 2009

Background

Today's passage is key to both Judaism and Christianity - andthere is more to say about it than could be encompassed in thisshort commentary!

For Jews, it relates the origin of Passover (pesach), and forChristians, it stands as the origin of the Lord's Supper (HolyCommunion/Eucharist). According to three of the four Gospels, thePassover feast was the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples(Matthew26, Mark14, Luke22). This is where Christians receive the words "Do this inremembrance of me".

You might have noticed a shift in the Exodus narrative as chapter12 unfolds, particularly when it comes to the Passover event. Itleaves behind the third person style (he, him, they, them)concerning God's dialogues with Moses, and Moses' dialogues withPharaoh, and switches to the second person: 'you'. "This day shallbe a day of remembrancefor you. You shallcelebrate it as a festival to the LORD;throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance."

All of a sudden, what was historical narrative concerning events'way back then' becomes a present event, in which we, the hearers,are meant to act out God's instructions. And so it is for both Jewsand Christians. When Jews sit down to the Seder, the Passover meal,and Christians eat the bread and wine at Holy Communion, bothgroups remember and re-enact in the present, God's great acts ofsacrifice and salvation. This is the great leap of faith fromobserver to participant.

To Ponder

A useful way of meditating or becomingGod-conscious is to read a biblical passage as though you werethere. Perhaps the next time you read the Bible you could slowyourself down and place yourself amongst the people and eventsbeing described. You might find it revealing. When could you maketime to do this? If you have the chance, try it with thispassage.

In Exodus, we find God acting both through peopleand the natural world. How might you discern God's activitytoday?