Holy Cross Church, Cottingham celebrated its first Passover Meal for Christians on the evening of Spy Wednesday. It was attended by 80 parishioners and friends. With readings, prayers and music, we recalled the night when the Angel of Death passed over the houses of the Israelites (marked with the blood of the lamb) and slew the first born of the Egyptians. This was the last of the ten plagues.
The people of Israel were packed and ready to move, eating their last meal on Egyptian soil – a meal of roast lamb and unleavened bread. We drank (red wine/red grape juice) and ate (roast lamb) according to our service sheet as everything had meaning of that event, or has meaning in our Mass today.
The lighted candles reminding us of the Pillar of cloud by day and the Fire by night, leading the Israelites into the desert. Today it reminds us of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Serving each other with watercress dipped in salt water reminds us of the hyssop dipped in blood used for sprinkling blood on the doorposts of the Israelites. The salt water symbolizes tears of repentance and Baptism.
The unleavened bread reminds us how the Israelites had not time to make leavened bread. They brought it out of Egypt with them. It is a symbol of Holiness – yeast is a corrupting agent and a symbol of Sin. It reminds us that God provided for the Israelites in the desert and also the bread we have on the altar at the Offertory – unconsecrated hosts. The lamb, which was eaten, was eaten because the Israelites’ houses were passed over when God slew the Egyptians, but spared the Israelites. -You shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he has passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, and the people bowed their heads and worshipped.’ The burnt bones were added to the Passover ritual after the destruction of the Temple in AD70 and the end of sacrificial worship by the Jewish people. For us Christians, the Paschal Lamb is JESUS.
The bitter herbs remind us of the embittered lives of the Israelites under the Egyptians. They were slaves. It reminds us Christians that slavery is that of sin, and our freedom from it through Jesus Christ. After we had eaten our meal, some of the unleavened bread that had been set aside was brought to the Leader, it was uncovered, broken and distributed. This bread is not consecrated but the intention is to show the Eucharist in its context in the PASSOVER MEAL. It reminds us why we often say the Mass is a Meal. At the Last Supper, Jesus was re-enacting a Meal that he must have attended many times. Going through the Passover Meal together helps to put so many things in context.
Sadly, Fr Pat could not share this with us as he was recuperating in Ireland, hopefully he will be with us next year when the Parish will repeat it. Our Leader for the evening was Jim Norton, who led us wonderfully. The whole event was initiated by the Catholic Women’s League with a little Parish help.
Elizabeth Rodgers, CWL Branch Secretary