Pascal Mystery

Discipleship in the light of the Pascal mysteries we meditate on Jesus as the example extraordinaire of disciples within the context of the feast of the Jewish Passover.

The Gospels have many examples of the interaction between Jesus and His apostles and his disciples, and all the examples are a guide towards doing and being what Jesus wants His followers to be.

However, as we meditate on this mystery we think about the implications of the Passover as celebrated by Jesus with His apostles and the importance of what Jesus particularly did for them at that time. The mystery hidden within this Passover feast remained at that time still a mystery to be broken open in due time.

For us, the Jewish Passover and our Easter time or the Paschal time is the high point of the Catholic liturgical year but historically it’s also a time when Jesus’ expectations of his apostles, disciple’s dispositions and conduct becomes most clear.

The paschal time involves the last days of the Lord’s physical, visible life on earth, ranging from his institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday night through to His Passion Good Friday and death, and the completion of redemption, Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

This Triduum we celebrate with special reverence and extended Gospel readings. Consequently, we have a yearly recall to the true nature of the work of salvation and the expectation of following the master in his work.

The first commandment “love The Lord your God with all your mind, with all your heart and with all your strength (Det. 6:5-6-Shemah Israel) is slowly embedded and growing and developing within the heart of the faithful, we ought to also have a remembrance of the Lord’s new commandment, namely:

“A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34).

Having instituted the sacrament of His Body and Blood (Eucharist) and that of the priesthood, on the evening of this Holy Supper, on holy Thursday, Jesus lowered himself, even his physical body,  and washed the feet of his apostles as an example and a commandment: telling them that they must do the same, that is serve, and not to be served in this way they would be recognised as his disciples (followers)  they could have no part in him. (Jn 13:5) except as servant.  He had come to serve and if they were to be his followers and close disciples (not friends) their charism would be to do as he did.

Humble discipleship involves a service with what they consider lower than themselves.  To the point of doing things that a servant would be expected to do.

Because of this institution of the sacrament of His body and blood by which he feeds his Apostles, disciples and for all time his followers, and the priesthood by which the sacrifice of Calvary is continued to be offered.  The example, (service) the means, and divine source are given to his followers to imitate, draw from and extend to others. Are given to them (present)draw and extend to others and forward on to the future. (A past event made present, real, and continuous – anamnesis).  This divine mandate beginning with him and them and to continue unbroken till the end of time so that his presence is with all of his father’s creation from beginning to end. No break in this gift of redemption from Jesus to all those who love and believe in him.

The miracles of the original Passover, (ex. 12:3-11) become a reality revealing the nature of the Saviour. It’s now a light which has shone on the apostles and followers and a vocation for them. A new priesthood given to them. A divine unbreakable priesthood. A priesthood which continues and brings down the presence of the Divine Son Jesus amongst his people, never to be absent.

We who believe, who understand, who know our Lord and saviour accept that He is the source of our natural and supernatural life. We recognise him in our daily coming and going. Life. Through the rituals of life.  example at Baptism we are incorporated into His life and death (Rms 6:3) We become His and he gives us the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who brings the virtues of faith hope and charity into the soul (1Cor. 16: 13,14, 2 Cor 5:5) All the sacraments required for all states of life and conditions of life are given by the Holy Spirit who can only repeat the actions and words of the Lord, the Son. 

The outpouring of the holy spirit on his followers is made clear in the Pentecost narrative but Pentecost occurred because of the last Passover enjoyed with His disciples (apostles) (Is. 32:15:  43:1) and Jesus’ promise to send another who would make clear things to them and assist them in understanding the mysteries which he himself had enacted.

Being baptised into His life and death, we are baptised into the mystical body of Christ (anointed)as living members who are imbued with his love and his holiness and attachment to us.  In time St Paul understood the mystical body to be “The Church”.

The effect of building a spiritual life on the Pascal mysteries is a consequence of our Baptism.  The promises made on our behalf if very young or we make if capable, the Gifts which are showered upon us with this initiation sacrament. Our reception of this sacrament ought to be remembered daily leading to the way in which we fulfil the new commandment.

 To love one another.  This initiation sacrament, (Baptism) leading to other sacramental gifts in life, prepares the soul for all that it is asked by the Lord in order to have done as he has done.

Discipleship (servants of the word) has the immediate aim of making the Gospel (Good News) known to all humanity with the ultimate aim of causing all of creation to become children of God the father in a state of restored innocence. 

But for those who know and love in the spirit and form of the Pascal mystery, the special grace of discipleship is the promise and gift of heavenly friendship, belonging, fulfilled promise. This is only possible when through a close identification and cooperation with Christ the Redeemer and Lamb of God we continue his work to help redeem others: to be a living, visible example of Jesus who’s sacrifice was for the salvation of brothers and sisters in Him, whilst being fed with his Body and Blood and moved by His spirit to fulfil the will of God.

The act of loving others in the manner of Christ or in the dimension of the cross involves offering our bodies, as St Paul would say “as a living sacrifice pleasing to God” (Acts 12:1)

May the fruits of our body and soul mature by means of the sacrament of His body and blood; to give out the effects of this sacrament.  As if by living within the new Passover, we will not only have in us that mind which is one with Christ Jesus but his “love”  By this means the words of the Lord to the Hebrews and the New Israel will be fulfilled “and the blood of the lamb shall be to you a token upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you (Ex. 12:13)

The Pascal mysteries open a dimension of divine which are unlike any other.  We see not only the human Jesus speaking to human apostles and followers but we see an image of the possibility of being like him.  He left, before he returned home to His Divinity, at the right hand of the Father, a roadmap of the journey and the helps which are available to be able to complete the journey.  The road would be at times rocky but it’s at those times that the closeness, would be felt and His help known to be with them.

The Mysteries of the Tridium or Pascal time contain all elements of creation. These written by His Father’s hand, just as the Ten Words were written on stone.