Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

In Anamnesis of Me

Outline

My lenten reading has included Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth vol 2 Holy Week

I have not yet finished, but I have been deeply impressed by his blend of historical-critical insight (and dialogue with other scholars), theological acumen, and spiritual depth.

But he also points out how many issues these passages raise, which, unfortunately, is what we should expect if we are dealing with what is ultimately a mystery

Tonight we are dealing with the Last Supper, a Proto-Passover

Now Passover was the covenant forming event when the people of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt.

It was a family meal - no one could be included who was not circumcised - you ate it in family groupings

It was an anamnetic meal (I think I invented that word) in that however many generations after Exodus it was, one experienced Exodus in the meal - you were there, as Moses makes clear in Deuteronomy

But in this Passover no lamb is mentioned except in John where the lambs are slaughtered as Jesus is on the cross

In this otherwise-normal Passover (laying on couches around the table, the cups of wine, the foods served) the host serves bread and wine that he declares in a performative word to be his body and blood

In other words, it is a participation in the sacrifice to be offered the next day experienced in the now of that day due to the words of Jesus

But Passover not only freed them from Egypt, but purified them from the shame and corruption of Egypt.

Jesus says that all who followed him had had a basic cleansing, a bath, probably referring to the baptism that at least in John initiated one into the group of Jesus’ disciples

But you did not take one bath and then say you are clean forever and you were not baptised once and then forever say you are without sin.

As Jesus says, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean.”

What Jesus does sacramentally at the Last Supper is as one who serves, as a slave, proleptically clean up his motley crew of disciples - but they had to allow him and one, at least inwardly, did not - as Paul indicates in Phil 2 when he says Jesus took the form of a slave and then lowered himself even more to death.

It humbles me to tears to realize that my spots and blemishes cost him that dearly.

Finally, Passover was a way of life

Passover formed them into a redeemed people and brought them to Sinai where they received a way of life from God.

Jesus formed them into a redeemed people, a Church, and, washing away their “dirt,” gave them a way of life - his self-giving love.

“Y’all become slaves like me, washing the stinking feet of each other, seeking their good at your cost - I call that love.”

That does not sound like the world’s way of self-fulfillment to me, but it is God’s way of divinization that is Jesus-ful-ment.

Sisters, I feel like I have just started, just put my toes into the edge of the sea that tonight makes present to us

But having walked this road so far with Pope Benedict, I realize that I cannot say it all

Meditate on these three simple things and then, if you ever finish that, maybe you might consider walking the road with Pope Benedict yourself.

Readings

FIRST READING

Exodus 12:1–8, 11–14

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month will stand at the head of your calendar; you will reckon it the first month of the year.

3 Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every family must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household.

4 If a household is too small for a lamb, it along with its nearest neighbor will procure one, and apportion the lamb’s cost in proportion to the number of persons, according to what each household consumes.

5 Your lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish.

You may take it from either the sheep or the goats.

6 You will keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole community of Israel assembled, it will be slaughtered during the evening twilight.

7 They will take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

8 They will consume its meat that same night, eating it roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

11 This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you will eat it in a hurry.

It is the LORD’s Passover.

12 For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn in the land, human being and beast alike, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD! 13 But for you the blood will mark the houses where you are.

Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thereby, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.

14 This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD; you will celebrate it as a statute forever.

RESPONSE

1 Corinthians 10:16

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?

The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

PSALM

Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16c, 17–18

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all the great good done for me?

13 I will raise the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

15 Dear in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his devoted.

16 LORD, I am your servant,

your servant, the child of your maidservant;

you have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer a sacrifice of praise

and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 13:34

34 I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

GOSPEL

John 13:1–15

CHAPTER 13

1 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.

He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.

So, during supper, 3 fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, 4 he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.

He took a towel and tied it around his waist.

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”

8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.”

11 For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.

14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.

Notes

ON THE SAME DATE | EASTER TRIDUUM

MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

YEARS ABC | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Chrism Mass

First Reading Exodus 12:1–8, 11–14

Response 1 Corinthians 10:16

Psalm Psalm 116:12–13, 15–16c, 17–18

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Gospel Acclamation John 13:34

Gospel John 13:1–15

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