With people isolated in their homes globally, we have a very interesting Holy Week for the world’s Judeo-Christian population.  The pandemic has the nations in an uproar and has created unforeseen chaos in the governments, the media, the markets, civilian life and the workplace.  One blessing that has come from slowing the spread is our new ability to slow our pace, then reconnect with family.  Other families are divided – caught in different places and feeling more alone than ever.

Just like God’s family: united in some ways, divided in others.  Still. With all of our denominations and variations on how to worship Him.

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What an amazing time for us to embrace unity spiritually, especially this Passover, and during a worldwide plague outbreak.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 will mark the evening of Nisan 14 when the Messiah held The Last Supper in a Galilean tradition of a meal prior to The Fast of the First Born which would take place the next day leading up to the Passover dinner. Leading up to this supper, the disciples would have already inherently understood from stories embedded in Exodus, as well as the entrance to The Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership, to consecrate themselves before this occasion.

As Christians, we are advised by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:28 to examine our hearts and minds before we participate in the Lord’s Supper as well. How often do we really dig deep and do that? What better time to pause than right now and ask forgiveness after we have forgiven others who have wronged us. We then approach our Holy Father with a clean, circumcised, tender heart and clean hands – and not because we washed them physically 20 times today. Paul further advises that when we do not take the time to properly consecrate ourselves before participating, we bring judgment on ourselves. In verse 30, he explains this is why we are weak, sick and have fallen asleep.

When they ate that first Passover meal in Egypt, they were ready to run – with their shoes on, garments tucked in and staff in hand. This current event is a great reminder for us to wake up if we have fallen asleep. It sounds the alarm we need to remember the importance of always being prepared with extra oil, ready to trim our lamps at a moment’s notice and run out to meet our Bridegroom.

As we agree to take the cup of the vine and eat the bread in this communion, we agree to the New Covenant placed before us. The story captured in Mark 12:28-34 is a renewal of the covenant that offered at Mount Sinai following the Exodus and reiterated in Deuteronomy 6. With great love, our Savior reiterated the importance of these two commandments: to love our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.  The same story in Matthew informs us that this Holy law of our Father in Heaven is the foundation of the commandments and writings of the prophets.

Jesus reminded those in the temple that afternoon before He set out for one last celebratory meal with His disciples.  When the time came, He told them in Luke 22:16 that He eagerly desired to eat the Passover meal with them.

We should just as eagerly, if not more so, desire to do this in remembrance of Him because of all that He has done for us and because of our love for Him.

So, discuss this with your family and teach it to your children. Remember what incredible bondage from which He has set us free and the restoration of peace that His sacrifice brought us. Don’t let this Passover pass by without the opportunity to participate in this together with Him. We are grafted into spiritual Israel with this covenant, as the spiritual seed of Abraham, and this should be written on our hearts: Hear O Israel. The Lord is God. The Lord is one.

Perhaps especially this year.

We are called to be as one with Christ, as He is one with the Father. Working in humble unity as a whole body – with different parts, but one mind. Even in this separation, spiritually we can be united in power, in love and a sound mind with renewed strength, restored health, fully awake and on watch.

If you have made communion a regular part of your spiritual life, or are planning on taking communion as you celebrate Holy Week, share in the comments below.