"Remember..."

Scripture Mark 14:12-16 (NRSV)

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to
him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. 

Meditation

We are here to remember the meal shared in fellowship, the feet washed in service, the bread broken and the wine poured in sacrifice. But at the beginning of the evening is preparation. Jesus sent his disciples to prepare for Passover, a remembrance of delivery from exile. More than remembering, however, Passover is a time of commemorating. This is more of an active remembering. It’s ceremonial and ritualistic. What better time is there, then, to start a new tradition of remembrance?

This is the time Jesus chooses to introduce a new custom. In the midst of remembering a great victory, we also remember another sacrifice.

At one point, during Passover meal or Seder, the child asks, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” 

Which makes me ask the same of us now. Why is this night different for us?

For those of us who grew up participating in Love Feast, this is a place out of space and time. Here, in a dimly lit church basement with the scents of soup and bread floating in the air, this is holy ground. This is a place filled with memories of people who are no longer with us, whether through distance or through passing on from this world. This is a place filled with emotions and ceremonies still continued to this day and long forgotten. 

We are in this place, in this moment while at the same time, able to reach out and touch one of the disciples as they sat before Jesus. Or we catch a glimpse of a flickering candle flame in the window of a church across the world as they go through the same rituals that we do now.

For those of us who are newer participants to this, it is still a night of mystery and discovery. A time for new memories made from old customs.

What makes this night different? It’s set apart. It’s a piece of home when you’re far away. It’s Christ among us and alive again through our actions. We come, prepared to worship and relive the moments. We come to remember the past and make new memories.

The table is set, the water is poured, and the bread is baked. Let us honor, remember, and celebrate together.

Prayer

Saving God, tonight let us remember what has come before and witness your movement among us here in this place and in these moments.

Give us courage to be wholly attentive. Not just in this week of remembering when our eyes are on you and on the cross, but always.

Let our eyes see the truth around us.

Let our ears hear the cries of your people, young and old. 

Let our mouths speak your peace and good works.

Let our hands serve in your glorious name.

Let us be attentive, God, to your people. Now and Always.

As we move into this night of rituals and commemoration, may our hearts be prepared to accept you again in whatever way you may appear to us. Amen.

(A meditation from Love Feast 2016 at Palmyra Church of the Brethren by Rachel Witkovsky)