Remembering

At First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, Florida, on occasion, we would celebrate a Passover Seder. My friend Cy Wofsy, who was Jewish, helped me lead our congregation in this event. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, the last supper he celebrated with his disciples was in fact, the Passover Seder. Cy helped us make deep connections between the Passover event in the book of Exodus and our regular celebration of communion.

There are too many connections to detail here, but it may be worth some reading on your own. One of the most powerful connections, however, is the command to remember. In both events, the people are encouraged to regularly enact a ritual that will help them remember God’s saving grace.

This is a reminder to me that especially in the most difficult moments in life, it is crucial to recall how God has carried us through in the past. It is important to tell the stories, to sing the songs, and to say the prayers so that we don’t ever forget and in forgetting lose hope.

Let us pray: Holy God, on this Maundy Thursday, the very day Jesus sat at the table with his disciples, we remember that he was for us, the Passover lamb – sacrificed for our salvation. We remember that Christ is with us in our own suffering; that he has carried us through difficult times in the past, and that his grace and power will be sufficient for us today. For all of these things, and for all your blessings, we give you all thanks and praise. Amen.