Daily Readings - Thu Apr 18 2019
Exodus
1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,2"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.3Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household.4And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,6and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.7"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.8They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.11In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.13The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.14"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
1 Corinthians
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."25In the same way also he took 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."26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
John
1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.2During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"7Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."8Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"10Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."11For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."12When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of sacrifice, service, and the enduring presence of God in our lives. The Exodus passage recounts the institution of the Passover, a pivotal moment where the Israelites marked their homes with the blood of a lamb, sparing their firstborn from death. This act of obedience and faith was a precursor to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood would save humanity from sin. The context of this passage is one of liberation, as God prepares His people for their exodus from Egypt, establishing a ritual that would be remembered for generations.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us of the Eucharist, instituted by Jesus on the night of His betrayal. Jesus took bread and wine, declaring them to be His body and blood, given for us. This sacrament is not just a ritual but a profound expression of Christ's love and sacrifice. The context here is one of correction and reminder, as Paul addresses the Corinthian church's misuse of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing its deep connection to the death of Christ and the unity it brings to believers.
John's Gospel shifts our focus to Jesus' act of washing His disciples' feet, an extraordinary display of humility and service. This act, occurring during the Last Supper, underscores Jesus' role as a servant-leader. The context is one of impending betrayal and departure, yet Jesus' focus remains on teaching His disciples the value of humility and love. He commands them to serve one another, setting an example that transcends hierarchical structures.
These readings are intricately connected, each highlighting different facets of God's love and our response. The Exodus story foreshadows the Eucharist, which in turn is lived out through acts of humble service. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace humility, serve others selflessly, and gratefully receive the sacrifice of Christ. Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood of the lamb, we are saved by Christ's blood, and just as Jesus washed feet, we are to wash one another's feet in spirit and deed.
The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not merely about rituals or doctrines but about living out the love and humility of Christ. We are to remember His sacrifice in the Eucharist and embody His service in our interactions. Let us strive to be people of gratitude, service, and love, reflecting the heart of Christ in all we do.