Tag Archives: Passion of Christ

An Ordinary Supper

“Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary.”
~ Blaise Pascal

One of the foibles of human nature (and tragedies of life) is how we can get used to almost anything.  Even the sacred.  Consider the Passover celebration.  This ceremonial meal celebrates one of the most extraordinary events in the history of not only Israel, but the world—the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.  By command of God, the Children of Israel observed the Passover each spring—the roasted lamb, the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs.  Year after year, the same ritual, the same four questions, the same menu.  All of it so familiar. Continue reading

Good Friday Meditation

6:00 a.m.

First light. A new day is just beginning. But for the Son of God, it will be his last day of natural life on this earth.

He sighs. He has been through so much in just the past few hours. Betrayal by a friend; betrayal with a kiss. Arrest. Mocking. The sham of a trial. False accusers and false charges. Utter rejection and feigned horror at the truth He spoke. “Blasphemy!” Now, he has been brought to the Roman governor, to face yet another inquisition, to be charged and found guilty for speaking God’s own truth.

He can hear the city beginning to stir. This is a big day. Passover. In the Temple morning worship is beginning. Incense and prayers and songs. Right now the morning sacrifice is being prepared to be slain, made ready to be offered up to God. An innocent lamb. Right now the eternal sacrifice is being prepared to be crucified, made ready to be offered to God for the people. The Lamb of God. Continue reading