1ST READING
Passover is one of the major watersheds in Israel’s history — it sets them apart from the rest of Egypt and upon a path that will define them as a people for the future. What defines us as a people, if not the death and resurrection of Jesus? The resurrection of Jesus changes the nature of the world as it ushers in victory over sin and death. This is what should define Christian living. Let us make sure that it is truly the case in our lived witness of Christianity.
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2“This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. 4 If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in proportion to the number of persons who partake of it. 5 The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. 6You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. 7 They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. 8 That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 11 “This is how you are to eat it with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the Lord. 12For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking downevery first-born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the Gods of Egypt — I, the Lord! 13But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. 14 “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.”
P S A L M
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
R: Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 17To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. (R)
2ND READING
The Eucharist is the celebration of our heritage as Christians. It proclaims to the world the truth of salvation every time it is celebrated. So often this does not appear to be the case, as it seems that we are not fully convinced of it ourselves. Too often we seem to be living a defeated, instead of a victorious, life. This identifies one of the major challenges we face today – fighting to make the message of the Gospel real to the world and the people who live in it. The issues of politics and economics are crowding out our days — we need to bring the focus back to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
GOSPEL
Loving service is at the heart of the Gospel. Loving service is at the heart of any true understanding of humanity. Let us never forget this example of Jesus. In fact, let us seek to make it the cornerstone of our witness to the Gospel. Let us never forget the responsibility we have to the truth and the legacy of Jesus’ obedience when we make life decisions.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.
John 13:1-15
1 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, 3 fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, 4 he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” 11 For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back onand reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. 14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
LIST
think: The resurrection of Jesus changes the nature of the world as it ushers in victory over sin and death. This is what should define Christian living.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 22-24xodus 1-3
LIST
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