In most years the celebrations of Passover (Pesach) and Easter (Pascha) are very close in time. Increasingly, the proximity of the two celebrations goes beyond simply a matter of dates. For Christians, there has been a developing consciousness of the “Jewishness” of Jesus. In some recent situations, Jews and Christians have come together to celebrate a Seder supper. Indeed, as Christians reflect with Scripture, it is most probable that the “Last Supper” was Jesus’ celebration of the Seder meal with his disciples and in accordance with Jewish Tradition. It is also notable that in addition to the Last Supper, the arrest, trial and execution of Jesus took place on Passover. Significantly, this fact aligns the two celebrations even more closely at the point of meaning.
Passover, beginning with the ritual slaughtering of the paschal lamb, the lamb that dies on behalf of the people, brings families together to commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12: 12-13). Spanish Scripture scholar, José Pagola, in his beautiful book, “Jesus: An Historical Approximation”, adds that in addition to remembering the earlier liberation, the Jewish people in their celebration of Passover were also awaiting the restoration of the freedom they had lost under the rule of the Roman Emperor.[1] Thus, the celebration of Passover is also concerned with liberation from current “unfreedoms”. The Paschal Mystery celebrated at Easter also remembers the liberation from death to life in the total self-giving of Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29); his cross and resurrection. Alive in creation and lived out by Jesus’ disciples the Paschal Mystery is also alive to liberation in the current day. The celebration of Easter entails both memorial and call to new life.
As we prepare to enter into the celebrations of Passover and Easter this year it is not difficult to consider a loss of freedom in our own communities. We are faced with the almost unimaginable context of the Coronavirus pandemic, accompanied by so much death, grief, and suffering. Our Passover and Easter this year will be marked by isolation, fear, and uncertainty. There will be no public opportunities for worship and celebration within our communities. We are, however, afforded time to reflect. What are the freedoms we have lost that go beyond those that we are experiencing personally? What needs restoring in the world?
Scientists inform us that the initial spread of the virus across species, now devastating communities worldwide, cannot be separated from the context of our manner of living. From misconstrued notions of freedom, we have, in fact, adopted other forms of captivity. We have become captive to philosophies of individualism, to patterns of behaviour that include greed, consumerism, excess in lifestyle, vulnerability to the power of advertising, convenience and separation. Ultimately, we have forgotten that we exist in relationship with God and with all that God has created. The result, destruction of the environment and immense human suffering, the potential for serious development and impacts of disease. For the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor are one. These are our un-freedoms today. Yet, Sister Gemma Simmonds, C.J. reminds us of our need to remember that “God’s greatest gift to us is freedom, so we are invited to acknowledge whatever gets in the way of our freedom and ask God to liberate us from our self-chosen slavery.”[2] We are called beyond memory to restore balance, to choose freedom, to elect life over death in the manner of our living. It is this celebration of and choice of freedom that is the very essence of Passover and Easter.
In this very different time perhaps we can take the opportunity to embrace the Traditions to remember God’s liberation in the past as we pray for that same freedom now in our own hearts, our communities and in hope. For, this is the true and convergent meaning in these celebrations. While we continue to hold in our prayers all those suffering in this time may it also be a time of celebration in whatever ways we can make safely possible. Eamon Duffy, a historian of Christianity, reminds us that the Paschal Mystery, and I would add, the liberation of the Jewish people from Egypt, is “always an affirmation of the unquenchable life of love … and it asserts our right to rejoice.”[3] Despite all the struggle today may we rejoice together still. A blessed and happy Passover and Easter!
Sister Mary Rowell, CSJ
President, National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors
[1]Pagola José A., Jesus: An Historical Approximation, Convivium Press, 2009, 67
[2] Simmonds, Gemma, The Way of Ignatius: A Prayer Journey through Lent, SPCK, 2018, 7-8
[3] Duffy, Eamon, Faith of our Fathers, Continuum Books, 2004, 7