Without a doubt, the most significant meal in the Jewish faith is Passover. Exodus chapter 12 records the specific instructions God gave to Moses on how this meal was to be prepared and eaten.

The first Passover was an intimate part of God saving the Israelites from slavery and death in Egypt. In subsequent years, the celebration of Passover was no less significant and remembered how God saved His Chosen People. By Jesus’ time, the Passover had been celebrated for over 1,000 years. As a faithful Jew, Jesus would have celebrated this sacred meal every year with His family and closest relationships.

God’s prescriptions for the meal included taking a perfect male lamb and sacrificing it before a whole assembly of Israel, all without breaking a bone. Then, using a hyssop branch, the blood of the lamb was to be applied to the door and its flesh must be consumed by everyone in the household. For any household that did not participate, death came to the firstborn son. Participants were saved by the flesh and blood of the lamb. God’s victory over the Egyptians saved His people from their earthly enemy and hardship so that they could have fellowship with Him and each other.

Unfortunately, the Israelites, and all of humanity, remained in slavery to a greater spiritual enemy. As God sent Moses to the Israelites, so too, “In the fullness of time, God sent His Son…” to rescue us from our true enemies: sin, hell, and the devil (Gal 4:4). When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching, he announced to the people, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29). Considering the fate for a male lamb in Jesus’ day, this was not a desirable title. John was foreshadowing Jesus’ role as the new and perfect Passover lamb.

It is no coincidence that Jesus’ last action before His Passion is to celebrate the Passover with the Apostles (Lk 22:15). Jesus is the perfect male lamb that is sacrificed before the whole assembly of Israel for their salvation. During the crucifixion, a “sprig of hyssop” is used to offer Him wine, connecting the blood of the lamb with His blood given to us under the sign of wine (Jn 19:29). St. John even makes a special note to record that the soldiers did not break any bones in Jesus’ body (Jn 19:36).

As the participants of the Passover were compelled to eat the flesh of the lamb, so too Jesus says “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (Jn 6:53-54). Participation in the new Passover is necessary for our salvation.

Every Sunday when we participate in Mass, we enter into the Last Supper. We are given Jesus’ lifesaving body and blood so that we may journey in an even greater Exodus away from sin and the devil. What’s more, we are saved for eternal life with God and the communion of saints. As we walk these 40 days of Lent and prepare for Holy Week, be attentive to the readings. They are preparing us to participate in the Passover of the new and everlasting covenant. Our response to this invitation can only be one of intense gratitude. God has invited us to participate in the fullness and perfection of this salvific family meal.