As I write this on Thursday April 9, both Christians and Jews have entered into our most holy days of the year. Passover began at sundown April 8 and Holy Thursday is today.
These holy days challenge us to remember two things:
- we can trust God even when circumstances appear dire
- we are our best selves when we serve each other
Both religions celebrate a similar event, though the circumstances of each were vastly different. In essence, we celebrate an unfaltering trust in God to lead us to freedom. Yet in order to get to that freedom, we must also surrender.
As humans, we have an extraordinary need to control others, circumstances, even life itself. Some say this need is because we fear separation, especially the ultimate perceived separation: death.
But the truth is we are not, and never could be, separate from either God or each other so surrender is fundamentally an act of self-love.
Franciscan priest, Richard Rohr, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation said it beautifully:
“Surrendering to the divine flow is not about giving in, capitulating, becoming a puppet, being naïve, irresponsible, or stopping all planning and thinking. Surrender is about a peaceful inner opening that keeps the conduit of living water flowing to love.”
While every day is a sacred gift, these commemorative holy days help us stop in a different way to contemplate the meaning of freedom, surrender, humility, and service.
The celebration I’ll miss most this year because of COVID-19 is the “washing of the feet” that happens at the Holy Thursday mass commemorating Jesus’ instruction to us to remain humble enough to do the most menial task for our brothers and sisters.
Let us pray both in contemplation and music with my favorite Holy Thursday song as performed by the choir of the Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University.
Thank you so much Barbara. I pray peace upon all from the Prrince of Peace, Jesus. Amen.