In preparation of my address for this beautiful Feast of the Paschal Lamb, I wrote myself a few points to work from. Either directly, or in some way, they all pointed to one word: Love. We are here today, as we are every year, to honor those no longer with us, and in our own way. This Degree connects the spirit of Passover with that of Pascha – both symbolic, and literal Biblical occurrences where those of either Jewish or Christian faiths observe this act of Charitable love, on an annual basis.
To comprehend the word Feast, it’s important to understand what one is, and how it applies to what we, Knights of the Rose Croix, do during our observance. A Festival Observation is a day, or a period of me, set aside for a community to come together for a specific purpose.
Festivals are often referred to as Feasts, and while not limited to specific religions, they are an important aspect of their yearly cycle. In the Christian religion, the central Festival is Easter (or Pascha), where Christians the world over celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Scottish Rite Freemasons, the beauty and impact of this Feast of the Paschal Lamb cannot be overstated. It is a Masonic Observance of both Jewish and Christian traditions that we should also recognize as a ritualized expression of love.
In the beginning, was God. Deus Caritas Est from La n translates to “God is Love”. Out of love, God created. There are numerous Biblical examples to consider, but I will spotlight one instance, which I believe is the best example. In the Old Testament, Moses was given the 10 Commandments, which carry forth to today. To these, Jesus adds but one Commandment, which is said to be greater than all the rest: “Love ye, one another.” We were reminded of this just a short while ago in this ceremony. Yet, while the Resurrection of Jesus is an important part of the Paschal narrative, we must remember His journey, resulting in the sacrifice he made to save mankind, by his crucifixion and death; This sacrifice was the ultimate expression of caritas made manifest. As Jesus prepared Himself, so must man. How much richer in experience is anything in life if we take great care in its preparation?
For the Christians on the Gregorian Calendar, the great period of Lent is nearly over, and next Sunday is Easter. In the Orthodox Church, we are on the Julian Calendar, and the Great and Holy Lenten season started but one week ago. This me, set aside for the preparation of Holy Week, resulting in the Resurrection of Jesus, is paramount to experiencing a rich and rewarding connection to the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Lent is the me we sacrifice aspects of ourselves, in order to connect more deeply with God. We utilize prayer, fasting of specific foods, and much more…but all done with a cheerful spirit and full of love, because Christians are supposed to realize that their sacrifice is miniscule in comparison to death on the cross.
In a non-religious way, the participants of this Feast of the Paschal Lamb underwent a period of preparation for today. They sacrificed me for learning and memorizing their parts, they committed themselves to excellence in the best way they could, and all in order to have the opportunity to honor the Brethren of this Valley, by providing a final send-off, in their own way and in the spirit of Fraternal love and fellowship. Perhaps we could say this is one example of caritas, applied in a Masonic way.
For many of us, love is a simple word, yet it possesses the potential to be complex in expression. A more direct translation of Deus Caritas Est is, “God is Charity” …but if we know that the La n Caritas actually has its root in the Greek word Agape, we will come to a new depth of our understanding of love, especially in a Chris an Sense. Agape, in its simple translation, means love…but with added context, it means generous, and unselfish love. This kind of love became expressed as “charitable love” when we say caritas…and by the me it is said in English, we know that word becomes “charity.” Again though, context matters, because charity in this case refers to acts done in generosity, and with unselfish love.
Our Feast of the Paschal Lamb is a Festal Agape meal of sorts. Note the food on the table. Like the ritual we use, it is specifically selected. An agape meal has been a recognized part of Christian heritage since the days of the “Early Church”. Our exemplification of it may be thought of as the preservation of one aspect of the early church, where those in attendance partook of a communal meal, before they received the eucharist during the Rite that followed. While it is no longer commonly practiced, the spirit of the meal celebrated the bonds of fellowship and harmony. So too is the spirit of the meal observed today.
Service. Humility. Sacrifice. Love. These virtues are the foundation of all fellowships that create harmony among its membership, and they should be found among the foundational qualities of every living being. Virtues such as these may have to be learned to truly be embodied. They will have to be practiced with consistency to become a natural expression of our disposition. To be virtuous requires effort.
In honor of that, let us strive to do as Jesus commanded, and become willing to sacrifice of ourselves in the name of love. We must continuously give of ourselves that we grow in virtue. Let us honor the dead by realizing the precious gi of life, and truly live a life of purpose. As we recall our departed Brethren in the reading of the Mys c Roll, and as this Feast comes to its conclusion, may it be God’s Will that we find a renewed sense of purpose, a willingness to serve in the spirit of caritas, and that our legacy is one of love.
Matthew J. Backus, 32*
South Bend Valley, AASR – NMJ
