April 8th, 2020: Pass Over
It is invigorating and freeing for us sometimes just to go out and do something to help someone when we don't seem to be able to find answers for the many questions that come my way. It has been an interesting time for many people in my line of work because we were trained to do our job face to face. Now it is "FaceTime", "Facebook Messenger"...and when we see people, we see them with a mask.
Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy means "command" and it was referring to Jesus' command to his disciples before his death: "Love one another as I have loved you". It is appropriate for us to keep that command close to our hearts. The needs we see around us are overwhelming and they don't seem to subside anytime soon. We might just feel God 's love when we live it out.
Jesus celebrated "Pass Over" on that day. Jewish people celebrate their freedom from slavery in Egypt and "Pass Over" is the name for it. Maybe when we learn to give ourselves freely and sacrificially, we experience a personal "Pass Over". It is the kind of freedom that sets us free from self-imposed slavery. Jesus' love is demonstrated by his death for humanity. How do we show our love for others during this time?
So let us be compassionate and serve someone today: call someone who has been shut-in, make a donation to a local shelter, buy and deliver food to frontline healthcare workers, write an encouraging note to someone, tell your wife that you are grateful for her and take some time in solitude so we might be in touch with God"s love.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13: 34)